{"product_id":"2026200014247-secondhand-civilized-magic-an-interpretive-guide-to-australian-paintings","title":"Civilized Magic: An Interpretive Guide To Australian Paintings","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Good\u003cbr\u003eJacket: No dust jacket\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good\u003cbr\u003eCondition remarks: Condition as shown in image\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat does it truly mean to see a painting — not merely to look at it, but to understand the cultural currents, historical forces, and human instincts that breathed it into being? Civilized Magic: An Interpretive Guide to Australian Paintings by Ronald Millar answers this question with wit, authority, and a profound reverence for the Australian artistic tradition, guiding readers through the rich and often misunderstood landscape of Australian visual art. Millar presents a carefully curated interpretive framework that unlocks the meaning behind iconic and lesser-known Australian works, illuminating the stories of the artists, the land that inspired them, and the society that shaped their vision.\n\nMillar's prose is both accessible and intellectually rigorous, making this an essential companion for art lovers, students, and curious minds alike. He argues that Australian painting is not a derivative footnote to European traditions, but a bold, distinct visual language forged in the heat and light of a singular continent. The book chronicles the evolution of Australian artistic identity from its colonial roots through to the bold modernist movements of the twentieth century, weaving together biography, social history, and aesthetic criticism into a seamless narrative. For anyone who has ever stood before an Australian canvas and felt the pull of something just beyond understanding, this volume offers the key.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49160893399259,"sku":"2026200014247-SECONDHAND","price":20.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/4daf2f82-ccc2-4cce-97d6-a3011b9fabdb.png?v=1787188106","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026200014247-secondhand-civilized-magic-an-interpretive-guide-to-australian-paintings","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}