Slow Looking
The Art of Nature
Published on 30. September 2025
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-1-76076-473-9 (ISBN)
Description
'A jewel of a book' Edmund de Waal
'The only way to see something is to look more slowly. That's what this book is showing us how to do' Jeanette Winterson
'This beautiful collection of artworks and equally moving essays is the ideal guide for anyone wanting to adopt the ethos of slow-looking' Maria Balshaw, Director of Tate
'Intoxicating ... awakens the ecstatic potential in the encounter and contemplation of both nature and art' Sophie Fiennes
Looking at art is good for you. Slow Looking: The Art of Nature explores a whole new way of thinking about art - inviting the viewer to contemplate artworks of land, water and sky for inspiration and to better understand the world around us.
Slow Looking: The Art of Nature takes readers on a meditative journey from fields, mountains, forest and glaciers to lakes, ponds, waterfalls and rivers and on to sunrises, rainbows, comets, clouds, constellations and so much more. This guided observation of nature offers a whole new way of contemplating the world - all through the medium of art.
This beautiful book brings together artworks that explore our deep-rooted connection to nature - from Georgia O'Keeffe's seashells to Van Gogh's olive trees and ancient Egyptian carvings. With each pairing, Meehan encourages us to notice more, look closer and find calm in the beauty and power of the natural world, from volcanoes and tempestuous seas to shimmering forests and shooting stars.
Slow Looking is a gentle reminder of the joy that can be found in paying attention, and how much nature continues to inspire, soothe and ground us.
With essay contributions from Harriet Baker, Lizzie Marx, Miya Tokumitsu and Alice Vincent.
'The only way to see something is to look more slowly. That's what this book is showing us how to do' Jeanette Winterson
'This beautiful collection of artworks and equally moving essays is the ideal guide for anyone wanting to adopt the ethos of slow-looking' Maria Balshaw, Director of Tate
'Intoxicating ... awakens the ecstatic potential in the encounter and contemplation of both nature and art' Sophie Fiennes
Looking at art is good for you. Slow Looking: The Art of Nature explores a whole new way of thinking about art - inviting the viewer to contemplate artworks of land, water and sky for inspiration and to better understand the world around us.
Slow Looking: The Art of Nature takes readers on a meditative journey from fields, mountains, forest and glaciers to lakes, ponds, waterfalls and rivers and on to sunrises, rainbows, comets, clouds, constellations and so much more. This guided observation of nature offers a whole new way of contemplating the world - all through the medium of art.
This beautiful book brings together artworks that explore our deep-rooted connection to nature - from Georgia O'Keeffe's seashells to Van Gogh's olive trees and ancient Egyptian carvings. With each pairing, Meehan encourages us to notice more, look closer and find calm in the beauty and power of the natural world, from volcanoes and tempestuous seas to shimmering forests and shooting stars.
Slow Looking is a gentle reminder of the joy that can be found in paying attention, and how much nature continues to inspire, soothe and ground us.
With essay contributions from Harriet Baker, Lizzie Marx, Miya Tokumitsu and Alice Vincent.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Fisherman's Bend
Australia
Illustrations
300 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 281 mm
Width: 220 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
1626 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-76076-473-9 (9781760764739)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Olivia Meehan is an art historian who makes connections between art, literature, nature and gardens across continents and through centuries. She received her MPhil and PhD in the History of Art from the University of Cambridge, King's College. She trained at the V&A Museum, London, and has worked as Assistant Curator of Asian Art, National Gallery of Australia, at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection Venice, and at the Archivio Luigi Nono Venice. She is a regular contributor to World of Interiors.
Content
INTRODUCTION - THE PRACTICE OF SLOW LOOKING by Olivia Meehan ¿ LAND: TREES | PLANTS & FLOWERS | FARMING | FIELDS | FORESTS & WOODLANDS | ROCKS, MOUNTAINS & GORGES | VOLCANOES ¿ Regarding Flowerbeds by Harriet Baker ¿ The Fragranced Dutch Flower Painting by Lizzie Marx ¿ WATER: SEAS | COASTLINES | BEACHES | CORAL & SHELLS | SEA CREATURES | WATERFALLS | RIVERS & WATERHOLES | LAKES & PONDS | GLACIERS & ICEBERGS ¿ Swimming in Ponds by Alice Vincent ¿ SKY: CLOUDS | WIND | WILD WEATHER | RAINBOWS | SUNS | MOONS | CELESTIAL BODIES & THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ¿ Clouds, Air and Weather Systems in Print by Miya Tokumitsu ¿ Biographies and suggested slow reading