Books › The art of Tantra
The art of Tantra
with 169 illustrations, 25 in colour
First published 1973 · 216 pages
A visually arresting and intellectually rigorous journey into the sacred geometry and sensual mysticism of Eastern spiritual art.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like walking through a quiet, dimly lit gallery of sacred artifacts with a brilliant, softly spoken curator at your side. It is a deeply contemplative and visually rich experience, demanding a leisurely pace to fully absorb the intricate mandalas and cosmic diagrams. The prose is scholarly yet accessible, treating the intersection of the sensual and the sacred with profound reverence. Rather than rushing toward a conclusion, the text invites you into a state of visual meditation, shifting your perspective from mere intellectual curiosity to a transcendent appreciation of Eastern mysticism. It will thoroughly delight art lovers, spiritual seekers, and anyone drawn to the esoteric symbolism that bridges the human body and the cosmos.
- Mood
- contemplative
- mystical
- visually rich
- transcendent
- Tone
- scholarly
- reverent
- analytical
- esoteric
- Pace
- leisurely
- Themes
- sacred geometry · spiritual awakening · cosmic symbolism · the sacred and the sensual · visual meditation
- The writing
- Academic yet accessible, offering deeply descriptive and respectful interpretations of complex spiritual imagery.
- The arc
- Moves from intellectual curiosity to a profound, meditative appreciation of cosmic interconnectedness.
- Who it's for
- Art historians, spiritual seekers, and anyone fascinated by the visual language of Eastern mysticism.
Content notes
- artistic nudity
- sexual imagery
About the book
Based upon the catalogue which the author wrote for the first comprehensive exhibition of Tantra art at the Hayward Gallery, London, in 1971.
Bibliography: p. 213.
Description from Open Library.
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