Contribuições do Ensaio como narrativa para a Arte em Henri Focillon

Abstract

This article aims to present the relevance of the essay as a narrative for the History of Art through reflection about the work The Life of forms in art by Henri Focillon. In this book, Focillon analyzed the qualities of the artistic object as a form, supported by concepts that interact with the universe of the work, equivalent to the world, space, matter, mind and time. Contrary to writings with scientistic tendencies whose authors scrutinize the work of art overshadowing the subjectivities and doubts of writing. The essay, on the other hand, announces the object through the path of uncertainty and spontaneity. In this way, it was necessary to take into account some elements of the construction of the essay, as a specific literary form, in order to comprehend the free style with which Focillon approached the theme of form in the work of art.