Art in the Cinema: The Mid-Century Art Documentary

In the 1940s and 1950s, hundreds of art documentaries were produced, many of which have received scant scholarly attention. This book discusses the most lyrical, experimental, and influential post-war art documentaries, connecting them to contemporaneous museological developments and Euro-American cultural and political relationships. Contributors with expertise across art history and film studies highlight film projects by André Bazin, Ilya Bolotowsky, Paul Haesaerts, Carlo Ragghianti, John Read, Dudley Shaw Aston, Henri Storck, and Willard Van Dyke.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In the vibrant decades of the 1940s and 1950s, a remarkable wave of art documentaries emerged, showcasing a diverse range of artistic expressions that were both personal and poetic. These films, characterized by their experimental nature, offered a captivating cinematic experience, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling. While a few notable exceptions existed, such as Alain Resnaiss' Van Gogh (1948) and Henri-Georges Clouzot's Le Mystère Picasso (1956), the majority of these documentaries have received limited scholarly attention. This book seeks to rectify this oversight by delving into the most lyrical, experimental, and influential post-war art documentaries, exploring their connections to contemporaneous museological developments and the intricate tapestry of Euro-American cultural and political relationships. Drawing upon the expertise of contributors from the fields of art history and film studies, Art in the Cinema highlights the contributions of renowned filmmakers such as André Bazin, Ilya Bolotowsky, Paul Haesaerts, Carlo Ragghianti, John Read, Dudley Shaw Aston, Henri Storck, and Willard Van Dyke, among others. By examining these projects, the book sheds light on the rich artistic landscape of the post-war era, highlighting the enduring impact of these documentaries on the world of cinema and art.

Weight: 446g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350357518