Sell Back Your Copy
For a $1.72 Gift Card
Trade in
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
The 20th Century Art Book
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

The 20th Century Art Book [Hardcover]

Editors of Phaidon Press (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover --  
Paperback $10.05  

Book Description

March 10, 1996
Following in the tradition of Phaidon's "The Art Book", this is an illustrated dictionary which presents in alphabetical order the work of 500 great artists from the 20th century. Each artist is represented by a full-page colour plate of a key work and a short text about the work of the artist. From figures such as Monet, Cezanne, Picasso and Dali at the beginning of the century to Pollock, Beuys and Hockney in the middle years, to innovative contemporary artists including Hirst and Koons, this dictionary provides a comprehensive listing from A-Z. The book reveals the works that make up the art of this century, including oil paintings, watercolours, prints, collages, sculptures, ready-mades, installations, performances and videos. Full glossaries of terms and artistic movements are provided, alongside a directory of public museums and galleries where the works can be seen. Detailed cross-referencing of artists, styles and subject matter completes this reference, which is suitable for teenagers and adults alike.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

One of the most complete representations of this century's art to hit the shelves in years, The 20th-Century Art Book offers 500 full-page reproductions, each by a different artist. No matter how famous, each artist has but one page, accompanied by a concise, informative block of text. Presented in alphabetical order, each artist, regardless of stature, is treated in exactly the same manner as the other 499 others in the book. Some images are delightfully complimented, others deeply agitated by the work that, by chance of the alphabet, happens to lie on the facing page.

Review

. . . this book stands for freedom of speech and equal representation . . . [it] keeps its fascination throughout. -- The New York Times Book Review, John Russell

More than any other era, the 20th Century offers us an unrivalled galaxy of styles and approaches to art. The last ten decades have been a fast-moving epoch of inventions, discoveries and political upheavals. As a result, the art scene has also radically changed: it has become more than international, artists have experimented with new media including oil paint, collage, sculpture, ready-made objects, installation, and video. The status of women artists has grown immeasurably. Phaidon's The 20th Century Art Book offers an A to Z guide to these innovative artists with 500 full-page color plates presenting celebrated works alongside future classics. each image is accompanied by an incisive text, shedding light on the work and its creator. The alphabetical arrangement presents thought-provoking juxtapositions, while cross-references lead the reader through the century by subject matter, style or medium. Full glossaries of terms, artistic movements, museums and galleries are included, creating a self-contained volume which presents a whole new way of looking at 20th Century art. The 20th Century Art Book is a benchmark publication that will serve as the principle art reference work for decades to come. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Phaidon Press; 1St Edition edition (March 10, 1996)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0714835420
  • ISBN-13: 978-0714835426
  • Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 10 x 1.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 6.9 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #498,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

 

Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
5 star:
 (13)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Quick Reference Guide, October 28, 1999
By A Customer
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
I have "The Art Book" by Phaidon and referred to it many times over the years. "The 20th Century Art Book" is an excellent companion and serves as a wonderful reference book to the world of contemporary art. It is small, easy to carry around, packed with great information on some of the most influential artists of this century and explains why these particular artists had such an influence on the world of art today. It is by no means an exclusive and detailed critique of art, rather a great general overview. "The Art Book" and "The 20th Century Art Book" are the best, littlest coffee books you can purchase.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for 20th century art!, February 12, 2004
This review is from: The 20th Century Art Book (Hardcover)
Arranged alphabetically, which is very helpful. Sadly, it generally has but only one painting or photo for each artist, but then the intent here is to cover as many artists as possible, not to be comprehensive on any one artist, and it's quite heavy as it is already.

The 20th Century Art Book is an EXCELLENT reference guide. How many times reading the Arts section of a newspaper, or an interview with an artist, etc., does one hear a reference to another artist and one has no idea who that person is? With this book, you can quickly check it out!

I also very much appreciate the cross-linking - since it's alphabetical, and not by style or school of thought, the editors have listed on each artists's page other artists who are similar or somehow related to that one. I have found the cross-referencing to be very helpful many times.

Unless one already has an encyclopedic knowledge of art of the 20th century, this is a PERFECT book for one's art library as a reference tool. And it's also a GREAT jumping off point for exploring artists: page through randomly, come across something interesting, then go and look for a book of that artist, or head to the museum "in search of."

I treasure my copy, and would not ever wish to part with it.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Extensive and Enjoyable, May 10, 2000
This review is from: The 20th Century Art Book (Hardcover)
This book is great for reference or just entertainment in a lazy moment. It provides information on a great number of contemporary artist with high quality representations of one of their works, including cross references to other artists of similar style or movement. The glossaries include an index of terms, movements and museums. I must have paged through this book a hundred times and just can not get tired of it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews











Only search this product's reviews



What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums





Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject