The Art of Darkness by S Elizabeth is a wonderful glimpse at art that falls under the broad umbrella of dark.

This book is exactly what I was hoping it would be, a book about the art with some theory thrown in to contextualize it. Nothing against art history or art theory books that focus on explanation and use just enough illustration to show their point. If you have read several such books, or just aren't that interested in the theory (art or psychological), this book offers more of the artworks themselves. Where, in those other books you would get a paragraph about a specific work and, hopefully, have a plate nearby to look at, the info is in the caption to the plate. The brief introductory sections of each chapter give a nice broad explanation of why the works that follow are connected.

There is a short, but actually quite good, list for further reading in the back. So this can serve as a springboard for more research. Additionally, with the many resources available, it isn't hard to look online for even more specific material about artists or ideas mentioned in the book.

While most of the usual artists who have made dark art are mentioned I was pleased that it wasn't always the most common work that was shown.

I really liked the other book in the series, The Art of the Occult, but I think I may have enjoyed this one more. Though it is a close call. While the occult may or may not speak personally to every reader (even while opening up a lot of interpretive space) these works of darkness speak more personally to the reader/viewer. We have all had nightmares or anxieties or other fears. In some ways, and definitely in my case, these speak to me more intimately.

Highly recommended for anyone from those well-versed in art and art history to those who just like to look at art and think about it. The illustrations are excellent, and the captions give a wonderful snapshot of the context.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )

3.5 stars ( )