Structure of Artistic Text

Any work of art is a puzzle waiting to be solved. Yuri Mikhailovich Lotman, in his monograph "Structure of Artistic Text," offers readers a key to the deciphering of artistic works, transforming the reading of books or contemplating paintings into an intellectual adventure.

This book is one of the key works of the Tartu Semiotic School, which Yu. M. Lotman founded and headed. In it, the author considers art as a complex sign system, where each element – whether it be word, image, or composition – serves a specific function and acts as a tool for cognition. Yu. M. Lotman illustrates his ideas using material from various types of art: analyzing literature, addressing painting, and cinematography.