Art's Philosophical Work

Animated by a very real philosophical imagination and informed by an impressive knowledge of the history of art, Andrew Benjamin's Art's Philosophical Work engages and illuminates the fascinating questions that arise when philosophizing confronts the strange material and historical presence at work in art.  This is a significant work, full of insight and originality. -- Dennis J. Schmidt, Professor of Philosophy, University of Western Sydney
Andrew Benjamin’s new book opens a new philosophical space for understanding the ways art matters. Situating his inquiry in the relational and historical nature of the work of art, Benjamin offers consistently original interpretations of key paintings and sculptures and their relation to the long historiography of the history of art. His account is lucid, wide-ranging and innovative as well as constantly affectionate about the object of his exploration. -- Jas' Elsner, Professor of Art History, University of Oxford and University of Chicago
This book puts art to work as a fine attention to the artwork's particular qualities gives rise to an exciting investigation of the processes of the artwork's 'coming into relation', the book shows how art history can be productively included in philosophical thought and how the consideration of art's history can expand philosophy. -- Karen Lang, Department of History of Art, University of Warwick