The Art Book

Product Information

In Medieval periods, Art had become a medium for expressing religiosity and the human body in a more spiritual manner. In Europe, churches were embellished with paintings, altar pieces and frescoes. Outside Europe, Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist art rose to prominence. This fresh new guide examines the ideas that inspired masterpieces by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Klimt, Matisse, Picasso, and dozens more! If you thought it was difficult to learn about the defining movements, The Art Book presents key information in a clear layout. Find out about subject matters, techniques, and materials, and learn about the talented artists behind the great works, through superb mind maps and step-by-step summaries. Rebecca West's iconic quotation speaks to her belief of art transforming our human existence into something that is meaningful. In our lives we are inundated with materialism and simply surviving ("being"). Fauvism and Cubism - developed in Paris. Fauvism is characterised by brilliant colours, simplified forms and bold execution. Cubism is the most radical of avant-garde art. The artists portray the world as it was known, rather than as it was seen. Shown from different viewpoints, solid objects were fragmented and rearranged so that they were often unrecognisable.

Timelines, biographies, references, illustrations, explanations of context and iconography - for people who have no previous knowledge of art history, this volume delivers a clear and interesting overview of art from the beginnings in cave painting to the performance art of recent times. For regular museum visitors, it offers an overview of art in various contexts and functions, adding a portfolio of the most important masterpieces of each period.This is the only book I've read in the last couple of months. I've been in a horrible reading slump lately but somehow, I felt oddly motivated to get through this book cover to cover.

I was eager to read this because of my interest in art history, and its seemingly lively style of presenting information. If you're looking for something along the lines of "fun facts about art", this would cut it - it's educational and simple enough to read due to its infographic-style layout, illustrations and explanations. Romanticism encompassed restless violence (following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte), exoticism and serene spirituality. It championed the cause of individual freedom and encouraged independent thought and questioning of authority. Focus was on artificial subjects of myth, allegory and history along with idealised figures and grandiose poses.During these periods, Art was naturalistic and had a distinct purpose, often for burials, spirituality, fertility rites, ritual sacrifice (the Aztecs) and celebrating the great deeds of a God, King or a ruler. It was often used to highlight the beauty of the physical body as well. True to the idea of the entire series "Big ideas simply explained", The Art Book has a modern, informative layout which appeals to a new generation of learners. The Art Book is a captivating introduction to painting, drawing, printing, sculpture, conceptual art, and performance art - from ancient history to the modern day - aimed at adults with an interest in the subject and students wanting to gain more of an overview. Here you'll discover more than 80 of the world's most groundbreaking artworks by history's most influential painters, sculptors and artists, through exciting text and bold graphics.