Does art leave you cold? And is that what it's supposed to do? Or is a painting meant to move you to tears? In Pictures and Tears , art historian Elkins tells the story of paintings that have made people cry. Drawing upon anecdotes related to individual works of art, he provides a chronicle of how people have shown emotion before works of art in the past, and a meditation on the curious tearlessness with which most people approach art in the present. Deeply personal, Pictures and Tears is a history of emotion and vulnerability, and an inquiry into the nature of art. New in paperback, this book is a rare and invaluable treasure for people who love art.