George Kubler "The Shape of Time: Remarks on the History of Things."
Arising from the study of art history, this book presents a radically new approach to the problem of historical change. George Kubler draws upon new insights in fields such as anthropology and linguistics and replaces the notion of style with the idea of a linked succession of works distributed in time as recognizably early and late versions of the same action. The result is a view of historical sequence aligned on continuous change more than upon the ecstatic concept of style--the usual basis for conventional histories of art.
In "The Shape of Time," Kubler considers all man-made objects with the idea that everything is invented because of human desire and need. While both scientists and artists are inventors, one creates solutions to solve physical problems while the other spiritual.
When it was released in 1962 "The Shape of Time" presented a radically new approach to the study of art history. Drawing upon new insights in fields such as anthropology and linguistics, George Kubler replaced the notion of style as the basis for histories of art with the concept of historical sequence and continuous change across time.
This book will be of interest to all students of art history and to those concerned with the nature and theory of history in general. In a study of formal and symbolic durations the author presents a radically new approach to the problem of historical change. Using new ideas in anthropology and linguistics, he pursues such questions as the nature of time, the nature of change, and the meaning of invention. The result is a view of historical sequence aligned on continuous change more than upon the static notion of style—the usual basis for conventional histories of art.
Yale University Press. Paperback. 1971.
New book. Inscription on the first page, typically just a name. minor shelf wear from rubbing. Otherwise, very good, nice and clean.