Main description:

What is it? What does it look like? What does it mean? What does it matter?

ART AND OCCUPATION is a beautifully illustrated book featuring the series of articles written by Dr Mike McKiernan for the journal Occupational Medicine.

It opens the door to the wondrous world of things, what social anthropologist Alfred Gell has called the "technology of enchantment". By analysing a series of paintings, etchings, engravings, photographs, sculptures and ceramics, Mike McKiernan explores the changing relationship between the individual and work over the past two thousand years; examines how it has impacted on workers and their health and questions the relevance of these images to occupational health today.

In the twenty-first century art and science have become closely aligned and this skilfully created collection is a welcome addition to this burgeoning and exciting interdisciplinary area of study. A valuable resource for physicians and an equally important compilation for art historians.