An expert's guide to the Gothic: five must-read books on the art and architecture style

"The Gothic period is usually seen as beginning in the middle of the 12th century and lasting until the 16th century, when the Renaissance was hitting its stride. But, of course, this was never the whole story, and Gothicisms, an exhibition at the Louvre-Lens (until 26 January), looks at how Gothic art never really went away. Here, the Louvre-Lens director Annabelle Ténèze, who has curated the show, focuses on five recently published books that help us get to grips with the Gothic."

"This anthology of texts explores the many ways in which the Gothic permeates contemporary art. From the writer Mary Shelley, creator of Frankenstein, to the visual artist Mike Kelley, with Andy Warhol along the way, these intersecting references reveal the breadth of the Gothic's influence on contemporary visual culture. The anthology also shows how these figures laid the foundations for a new generation of artists, as well as fashion designers, television creators and video-game makers."

"This catalogue is as rich as the exhibition itself, on view at Vienna's Albertina Museum (until 11 January), after being displayed in Finland and Norway. More than 200 works illustrate the influence of Gothic art on Modern artists at the close of the 19th century. The catalogue conveys the unique sense of creative effervescence that animated the period."

The Gothic period is commonly dated from the mid-12th century to the 16th century, but Gothic art persistently reappears in later eras. An exhibition at Louvre-Lens frames Gothic survivals and resurgence through five recent books. One book chronicles the rebuilding of Notre-Dame after the 2019 fire and highlights the crafts and professions involved in its restoration. Another anthology traces Gothic motifs through literature and contemporary visual culture, linking figures from Mary Shelley to Mike Kelley and Andy Warhol. A catalogue documents Gothic influences on Modern artists around the late 19th century. One work examines nineteenth-century creations and forgeries in the decorative arts.

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