Defining Edges: A New Look at Picture Frames
Defining Edges: A New Look at Picture Frames by W. H. Bailey is a thought-provoking exploration of the impact that picture frames have on our perception of art. Published by Harry N. Abrams on November 19, 2002, this first edition comprises 136 pages and is presented in English. Bailey, an artist and frame consultant, delves into the often-overlooked role of frames in shaping our understanding of artworks, revealing how they can influence our viewing experience in subtle yet significant ways.
In this book, Bailey examines 56 paintings, including notable masterpieces, to illustrate how their frames—many designed by the artists themselves—interact with the images they encase. He challenges traditional views of framing, presenting it as an essential component of art presentation rather than merely a decorative choice. Readers will find insights into the relationship between frames and the artworks they surround, emphasizing the importance of visual context in art appreciation. This edition invites readers to reconsider the boundaries of art and the frames that define them.
Official synopsis Publisher
The choice of a frame affects the way we view a work of art in multiple ways, even when we are not aware of it. In this stimulating and truly original book, W. H. Bailey, an artist, designer, and frame consultant, shows how the frame is a vital part of viewing pictures and integral to their presentation. He shatters preconceived notions of borders and changes the way we see and understand art.
Bailey examines 56 paintings-including some well-known masterpieces-to explore how their frames, many designed by the artists themselves, relate to the pictures they surround. As The New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik says in his foreword: “Bailey views the act of framing not as a decorative act but as a meaningful one. . . a vindication of the purely visual, of seeing as a form of thought. A frame can be like a superior detective, come to force the picture to confess its real intentions, saying, as detectives will: ‘Come out, come out! You’re surrounded!’”
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