Art, Mimesis and the Avant-Garde: Aspects of a Philosophy

In this review of Art, Mimesis and the Avant-Garde: Aspects of a Philosophy of Difference, Andrew Benjamin offers a sustained philosophical engagement with art that will appeal to readers who want thinking that connects ontology and artistic practice. The book's single biggest reason to buy is its consistent reworking of philosophy around modes of being, using close readings of painters and other artists to make ontological claims tangible. This review examines how Benjamin frames the avant-garde, mimesis and difference, and why his interpretations of figures like Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon make the book valuable for scholars and serious readers.

Key Features

• Ontological focus: Benjamin centers the argument on ontology, making questions of existence and mode of being the lens through which art is discussed, which sharpens philosophical analysis.
• Painter case studies: Close readings of Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, R.B. Kitaj and Anselm Kiefer provide concrete examples that illuminate abstract claims about mimesis and representation.
• Interdisciplinary reach: The book moves beyond painting to include architecture, literature and philosophical texts, offering a broader context for the theory of difference.
• Engagement with thinkers: Consideration of Walter Benjamin and Descartes situates the book within a recognizable philosophical lineage, clarifying its intellectual stakes.
• Theory of the avant-garde: Benjamin presents an account that links avant-garde practice to ontological difference, supplying a fresh angle on artistic rupture and innovation.

Who It's For

This book is best suited to graduate students, academics and intellectually curious readers who enjoy dense philosophical prose and careful art-historical readings. Those interested in aesthetics and the intersection of continental philosophy and contemporary art will find the arguments rigorous and stimulating.

Readers seeking a quick survey, a richly illustrated coffee-table book, or an introductory primer to modern art should look elsewhere; this is a theoretical and interpretive work rather than a general overview or visual catalogue. It rewards close reading rather than casual browsing.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Strong ontological framing gives the book intellectual consistency and depth.
• Detailed analyses of individual painters make abstract ideas tangible.
• Cross-disciplinary references enrich the philosophical claims with cultural context.

Cons

• The prose is demanding and will be challenging for readers without some background in philosophy or art theory.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Art, Mimesis and the Avant-Garde is a valuable purchase for readers who want a philosophically rigorous account linking ontology and art practice; its careful readings of major painters make its theoretical claims concrete, delivering strong intellectual value for scholars and dedicated students of aesthetics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book focus more on art history or philosophy?
Answer. The book primarily operates as a philosophical text with art-historical readings used to support ontological arguments.

Which artists receive the most attention?
Answer. Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon are among the painters given prominent, original interpretation within the book.

Is this accessible to general readers?
Answer. It is demanding and best suited to readers with some background in philosophy or art theory rather than casual readers.