Shapes and Stories

Shapes and Stories (co‑authored by Geoffrey Grigson and Jane Grigson) is a thoughtful and accessible art‑appreciation book first published in 1964 by John Baker. The Grigsons invite readers — especially younger or less experienced ones — to look beyond surface detail and understand how pictures are composed: how forms (“shapes”) in art can communicate narrative, emotion, and symbolism.

Across its 65 pages, Shapes and Stories presents 48 works of art from varied periods — including Renaissance paintings, German woodcuts, Blake, Picasso, Hokusai, Klee and more — and describes not just what is depicted, but how artists use line, volume and shape to structure meaning. The authors’ prose is descriptive rather than deeply technical; they focus on helping readers “see” what is going on in the artwork, interpreting scenes and guiding visual literacy rather than offering academic art history analysis.

This edition of Shapes and Stories is ideal for art students, young readers, libraries, and anyone wanting a welcoming introduction to visual analysis. Its combination of carefully chosen images and clear, gentle commentary has made it a long-loved primer on how to read pictures thoughtfully — helping readers to connect shape, story, and meaning in art.