Leo Stein

Leo Stein (1872-1947) was an influential art collector and critic. It has been Stein's ironic fate to be referred to as "Gertrude's brother," ironic as for many years he was her mentor and counsellor. The A-B-C of Aesthetics considers the field of aesthetics not from a theoretical and discursive angle, not as a matter of classification and conceptual method, but from a basis of practical experience. The author insists that the importance of the aesthetic experience is something "as essentially practical as food." Stein argues in this book that an understanding of the meaning and implication of the aesthetic experience can only come through doing, not through argument and intellectualization. Aesthetic perception is a special way of grasping the realities in us and about us. It is not limited to the narrow outlook of specialists, artists, or their critics.

Leo Stein (1872–1947) was an influential art collector and critic. It has been Stein’s ironic fate to be referred to as “Gertrude’s brother,” ironic as for many years he was her mentor and counsellor. "The A-B-C of Aesthetics" considers the field of aesthetics not from a theoretical and discursive angle, not as a matter of classification and conceptual method, but from a basis of practical experience. The author insists that the importance of the aesthetic experience is something “as essentially practical as food.” Stein argues in this book that an understanding of the meaning and implication of the aesthetic experience can only come through doing, not through argument and intellectualization. Aesthetic perception is a special way of grasping the realities in us and about us. It is not limited to the narrow outlook of specialists, artists, or their critics.

Leo Stein (1872-1947) was an influential art collector and critic. It has been Stein's ironic fate to be referred to as "Gertrude's brother," ironic as for many years he was her mentor and counsellor. Appreciation: Painting, Poetry and Prose is a model of lucidity, wisdom and classical simplicity. It ranges over a wide field of thought and criticism. Leo Stein's judgements on art and literature are crisp, perceptive and original. His approach to his subject is casual, anecdotal and, though often sharp and biting, finally mellow. Reading this book is like that rare experience of listening, enchanted, for an evening to a great conversationalist, a man informed and urbane, witty and wise.

Leo Stein (1872-1947) was an influential art collector and critic. It has been Stein's ironic fate to be referred to as "Gertrude's brother," ironic as for many years he was her mentor and counsellor. Appreciation: Painting, Poetry and Prose is a model of lucidity, wisdom and classical simplicity. It ranges over a wide field of thought and criticism. Leo Stein's judgements on art and literature are crisp, perceptive and original. His approach to his subject is casual, anecdotal and, though often sharp and biting, finally mellow. Reading this book is like that rare experience of listening, enchanted, for an evening to a great conversationalist, a man informed and urbane, witty and wise.