Chloë Ashby - Look At This If You Love Great Art: A critical curation of 100 essential artworks • Packed with links to further reading, listening and viewing to take your enjoyment to the next level

Chlo Ashby

GREAT ART

A critical curation of
100 essential artworks

Ive been lucky when it comes to workplaces. More often than not, theyve been a short walk away from a gallery or museum. There was one newsroom on Londons Southbank, just along from Tate Modern; another in Marylebone, a close neighbour of the Wallace Collection. Come lunchtime, Id take time out from the rattling keyboards and office chitchat to reset in front of an artwork. There was something about the pencil lines and the layers of oil paint that made me feel more present. Today, were always in a hurry and art is a means of slowing down and checking in with yourself.

Some of those artworks have made it into this book. When I started my selection process, a few old favourites slipped smoothly out of my head and onto the page. Take douard Manets barmaid at the Folies-Bergre, whom I first met while studying art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art and who holds a special significance for the protagonist of my first novel. My dissertation was on Gustave Caillebottes floor scrapers: there was something about the half-dressed workmen that got me (besides their gleaming bodies). Other works such as Helene Schjerfbecks eerily abandoned landscape and Madge Gills feverish and frantic hallucinatory drawing Ive stumbled across at exhibitions over the years.

Once I had a working list, I began to pick it apart because really, this book is about more than what I happen to like best. I wanted to include a mix of styles and schools, from the Renaissance to the present day, and a balance of nationalities and genders. Alongside the big names, youll find overlooked and emerging artists. I set my sights beyond the mostly white, mostly male traditional canon. I also began to think about the themes threaded through the history of art, which became the basis for my chapters. This isnt a chronological survey instead, it brings together works that seem worlds apart but, in fact, share certain characteristics or aims.

Im a freelancer these days, and my workplace is my flat. At present, Im living in Paris, and as well as the museums and galleries on offer I have a pinboard of postcards, artworks reproduced on a small scale. (Art can be consumed in more than one format.) Its worth saying that though this book contains what I consider to be 100 of the most original and inspiring artworks out there, I wouldnt necessarily want to have them all on my walls and not just because I dont have anywhere near the space. Art can be beautiful, bewildering, brazen. It can also be hard to look at, and thats ok. Theres no right or wrong way of looking at art, but it does reward those who make the effort to look twice, or more. Oh, and in the spirit of slowing down, take your time when it comes to turning these pages.

The chapters in this book have been uniquely curated to offer an intriguing juxtaposition of works, and every entry comes packed with extra recommendations to take your appreciation to the next level. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect.

The Links

+ SEE THIS

Another great artwork by the same artist, or one that influenced or was influenced by the piece you see here.

+ VISIT THIS

Suggestions for galleries, museums or places connected to the artist or artwork.

+ READ THIS

Books with a thematic link, or biographies and articles to further your knowledge.

+ WATCH THIS

Films, documentaries, online interviews or artist talks worth investigating.

+ LISTEN TO THIS

Podcasts or pieces of music to perfectly accompany gazing upon this artwork.

+ LIKE THIS? TRY THESE

Three artists who are either from the same period or have covered similar themes in their work.

Oh, What a Feeling! (1029)

The tortured artist is a familiar trope. Less so art that tortures those who look at it. Joy, pity, anxiety, fear: these are all fitting responses to the emotional rollercoasters in this chapter.

You Can Leave Your Hat On (3049)

Nakedness in art has enchanted and enraged audiences across the ages. Here we explore myriad variations, from idealized nudes to mighty and meaty images of unprimed human flesh.

Pushing the Boundaries (5071)

At times you have to shake things up in order to make a change. From acts of defiance to the use of revolutionary artistic devices, the works of art in this chapter challenged the status quo.

Gods and Mythical Creatures (7293)

Religion and myth are threaded through art history, presenting viewers with origin stories as well as cautionary tales. The paradox? Looking at images of beautiful goddesses and unbridled centaurs reminds us what it is to be human. And no, you dont have to be religious to appreciate religious art.

Troubled Dreams (94113)

Dreams are a tantalizing subject for artists and no wonder, with their imaginative possibilities. This chapter unveils what happens during our sweet seconds of shut-eye, and the fantastical beasts that might be lurking beneath your bed.

Out of the Ordinary (114133)

Many artists have made their mark picturing or pilfering commonplace things, people and places. Of course, the effect is quite the opposite the ordinary made extraordinary.

To the Barricades (134155)

Art is a soft-power superpower a mirror to society and a battle cry for change. Whether created in response to a historic event, or to convey the injustice of contemporary life, these works call for social and political upheaval.

Natural Wonders (156177)

Just as artists scavenge their own lives for inspiration, so too do they borrow from the natural world. From a lamb in a formaldehyde-filled tank to a twitchy-nosed hare, these subjects are sourced from the great outdoors.

The Balance of Power (178197)

Some artworks shine a light on the relationship between sitters; others turn their lens towards the viewer. Either way, what we have here is a case of power play. Your challenge? Not to look away when you become the subject of a disconcerting stare.

Change of Scene (198219)

Art has the ability to immortalize not just a moment in time but also a particular place. The landscapes and cityscapes in this chapter capture grassy fields, crashing waves and quiet moments of urban isolation.

CHAPTER
1	OH, WHAT A FEELING!

Rembrandt van Rijn

Self-Portrait in a Cap, Wide-eyed and Open-mouthed

1630

First-time writers are often told to write what they know and its the same for artists. This poignant yet playful etching one of a quartet the young artist created in Leiden, the Dutch city where he was born and raised was one of Rembrandts earliest attempts to record his own likeness.