Georg Simmel: Essays on Art and Aesthetics

Georg Simmel is a key figure in the development of sociology, and his writings on money, modernity, and the metropolis continue to be influential. This collection brings together his finest writing on art and aesthetics, covering topics such as landscape painting, portraiture, sculpture, poetry, theater, form, style, and representation. Simmel's ideas were innovative and creative, and this collection preserves his narrative ease and will be a valuable resource for readers interested in his trailblazing ideas in modern European philosophy, sociology, and cultural theory.

Format: Hardback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2020
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Georg Simmel, a prominent German philosopher of the 20th century, is widely recognized as a key figure in the establishment of sociology as a modern discipline. His extensive and influential writings, covering a wide range of topics, continue to spark intense debate and discussion. Simmel's intellectual curiosity led him to explore the intricate connections between culture, society, and economic life, resulting in his insightful observations on various aspects of aesthetics and the arts.

A close friend and associate of renowned writers and artists such as Auguste Rodin, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Stefan George, Simmel authored numerous essays that delved into diverse subjects such as the works of Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Rodin, Japanese art, naturalism and symbolism, Goethe, art for art's sake, art exhibitions, and the aesthetics of the picture frame. This comprehensive collection, the first of its kind, presents Simmel's finest writings on art and aesthetics, many of which are published in English for the first time.

The more than forty essays included in this volume showcase the diverse range of Simmel's reflections, encompassing landscape painting, portraiture, sculpture, poetry, theater, form, style, and representation. An extensive introduction by Austin Harrington provides a comprehensive overview of Simmel's themes and highlights the profound impact of his ideas on subsequent theorists.

While Simmel may have been considered an outsider within the formal academic circles of his time, he possessed a remarkable writing style that exhibited the flair of an essayist. This collection of translations, meticulously prepared by the editor, ensures that Simmel's prose retains its narrative ease, making it an invaluable resource for readers seeking to delve into Simmel's groundbreaking ideas in modern European philosophy, sociology, and cultural theory.

Weight: 666g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226620930