Ways of Seeing

Howdoweseetheworldaroundus?"ThePenguinonDesign"seriesincludestheworksofcreativethinkerswhosewritingsonart,designandthemediahavechangedourvisionforever."Seeingcomesbeforewords.Thechildlooksandrecognizesbeforeitcanspeak.""But,thereisalsoanothersenseinwhichseeingcomesbeforewords.Itisseeingwhichestablishesourplaceinthesurroundingworld;weexplainthatworldwithwords,butwordcanneverundothefactthatwearesurroundedbyit.Therelationbetweenwhatweseeandwhatweknowisneversettled."JohnBerger's"WaysofSeeing"isoneofthemoststimulatingandinfluentialbooksonartinanylanguage.Firstpublishedin1972,itwasbasedontheBBCtelevisionseriesaboutwhichthe(London)"SundayTimes"criticcommented:'Thisisaneye-openerinmorewaysthanone:byconcentratingonhowwelookatpaintings...hewillalmostcertainlychangethewayyoulookatpictures.'Bynowhehas.