Synthetic Worlds : Nature, Art and the Chemical Industry

This revealing study considers the remarkable alliance between chemistry and art from the late eighteenth century to the period immediately following the Second World War. Synthetic Worlds offers fascinating new insights into the place of the material object and the significance of the natural, the organic, and the inorganic in Western aesthetics.Esther Leslie considers how radical innovations in chemistry confounded earlier alchemical and Romantic philosophies of science and nature while profoundly influencing the theories that developed in their wake. She also explores how advances in chemical engineering provided visual artists with new colors, surfaces, coatings, and textures, thus dramatically recasting the way painters approached their work. Ranging from Goethe to Hegel, Blake to the Bauhaus, Synthetic Worlds ultimately considers the astonishing affinities between chemistry and aesthetics more generally. As in science, progress in the arts is always assured, because the impulse to discover is as immutable and timeless as the drive to create. (20060225) From The Late Eighteenth Century To The Period Immediately Following The Second World War, There Was A Remarkable Alliance Between Chemistry And Art. Synthetic Worlds Offers Fascinating New Insights Into The Place Of The Material Object And The Significance Of The Natural, The Organic And The Inorganic In Western Aesthetics During That Era. Esther Leslie Chronicles How Radical Innovations In Chemistry Confounded Earlier Alchemical And Romantic Philosophies Of Science And Nature While Profoundly Influencing The Theories That Developed In Their Wake. She Also Explores How Advances In Chemical Engineering In Germany And Elsewhere Provided Visual Artists With New Colours, Surfaces, Coatings And Textures, Thus Dramatically Recasting The Way Painters Approached Their Work. Ranging From Feuerbach To Fluorescence, Ultra-violet To Utopia, Synthetic Worlds Considers The Startling Affinities Between Chemistry, Industry, Aesthetics And Art. As In Science, Progress In The Arts Is Always Assured, Because The Impulse To Discover Is As Immutable And Timeless As The Drive To Create.--jacket. Introduction : Glints, Facets And Essence -- 1. Substance And Philosophy: Coal And Poetry -- 2. Eyelike Blots And Synthetic Colour -- 3. Shimmer And Shine, Waste And Effort In The Exchange Economy -- 4. Twinkle And Extra-terrestriality: A Utopian Interlude -- 5. Class Struggle In Colour -- 6. Nazi Rainbows -- 7. Abstraction And Extraction In The Third Reich -- 8. After Germany: Pollutants, Aura And Colours That Glow -- Conclusion : Nature's Beautiful Corpse. Esther Leslie. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 270-273) And Index. Annotation This revealing study considers the remarkable alliance between chemistry and art from the late eighteenth century to the period immediately following the Second World War. Synthetic Worlds offers fascinating new insights into the place of the material object and the significance of the natural, the organic, and the inorganic in Western aesthetics. Esther Leslie considers how radical innovations in chemistry confounded earlier alchemical and Romantic philosophies of science and nature while profoundly influencing the theories that developed in their wake. She also explores how advances in chemical engineering provided visual artists with new colors, surfaces, coatings, and textures, thus dramatically recasting the way painters approached their work. Ranging from Goethe to Hegel, Blake to the Bauhaus, Synthetic Worlds ultimately considers the astonishing affinities between chemistry and aesthetics more generally. As in science, progress in the arts is always assured, because the impulse to discover is as immutable and timeless as the drive to create Imprint page......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Introduction: Glints, Facets and Essence......Page 9 1 Substance and Philosophy, Coal and Poetry......Page 27 2 Eyelike Blots and Synthetic Colour......Page 50 3 Shimmer and Shine, Waste and Effort in the Exchange Economy......Page 81 4 Twinkle and Extra-terrestriality: A Utopian Interlude ......Page 97 5 Class Struggle in Colour......Page 120 Colour Plate Section......Page 131 6 Nazi Rainbows......Page 169 7 Abstraction and Extraction in the Third Reich......Page 195 8 After Germany: Pollutants, Aura and Colours That Glow......Page 220 9 Nature’s Beautiful Corpse......Page 250 References......Page 256 Select Bibliography......Page 272 Acknowledgements......Page 276 Index......Page 277