'Look closely. The beautiful may be small.'

February 24, 2012 7:40 AM

This is a collection of the smaller details of art works. Imagine using macro lenses on a Van der Weyden or Van Gogh. It's another way of looking at (of seeing) well-known pieces: hemlines, hands, veins, the curve of a shoulder. Also: texture and facial expressions.

Related: watch John Berger's Ways of Seeing and/or read The Art of the Detail Shot if you're interested in the photography aspect of things. This is also a neat little exercise: 25 Ways to Look for the Little Things.

posted by pleasebekind (4 comments total)

Bernini's Pluto e Proserpina has some wonderful details.
posted by swift at 7:54 AM on February 24, 2012

There's a wonderful book with 100 Details from the National Gallery in London by Kenneth Clark.
posted by lucia__is__dada at 10:24 AM on February 24, 2012

The blog's archive.

Some these details are great. Some, like, the Psyche and Cupid, are less than great. And some are asinine.
posted by incandenza at 11:53 AM on February 24, 2012

Some of, even.
posted by incandenza at 11:55 AM on February 24, 2012