Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

One of the most brilliant and important applications of biological metaphors to the study of art. In this classic meditation on the problem of style in art history, Henri Focillon In this beautiful meditation on the history of art and the problem of style, Henri Focillon (1881-1943) describes how art forms change over time. Although he argues that the development of art is irreducible to external political, social, or economic determinants, one of his great achievements was to lodge a concept of autonomous formal mutation within the shifting domain of materials and techniques. Focillon emphasizes the presence of nonsynchronous tendencies within styles that give to artworks a manifold and stratified character. The Life of Forms in Art remains one of the most brilliant and important reflections on the morphology of art. It has been superbly translated by George Kubler, whose book The Shape of Time was influenced by Focillon.The book also contains a critical introduction by Jean Molino. Henri Focillon (1881-1943) taught at the CollAge de France and at Yale University. His books include Art of the West. Romanesque and Gothic (2 vols.), The Year 1000, L'art des sculpteurs romans, and Piero della Francesca.