Optical instrument made masterpieces.

“The Secret of Masterpiece” by Hockney, David

296pages, 60,000 won, Han-gil Art

We see a work of art focusing is usually a fruit of inspiration. However, technical presentation is just as important as inspiration in the creative art. It is very important to comprehend and relish with a balance of inspiration and technical presentation in the appreciation of art, if inspiration is the soul and technical presentation is the body. The problem is that not only general art lovers, but also experts like critic or art historian overlook the role or importance of the technical presentation.

This book, written by a celebrated English painter, is a great work that shows a fresh point of view by persistently exposing technical presentation which was overlooked through art history. While reading through this book, the reader can not help but admit that the author who deals only with description and who is a great artist with a prominent expression power can write this book.

The descriptive tradition the author revealed is exactly related to optical science. Optical science completes the essential descriptive development together with perspective representation and anatomy. However, understanding the role of optics is in need compared to perspective representation and anatomy. The author indicates two reasons: one is the fact that exposure of optical representation is restricted as a type of secret technique, the other is the fact that knowledge and instruction for using a tool relating optics became extinct.

Sung-Won Joo swon@donga.com