Customer Reviews

Discovering Art: A User's Guide to the World of Collecting

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

What a helpful book. Ms. Frank's primary message is "don't let the so-called experts intimidate you." In simple, down-to-earth prose she makes even neophytes feel as if their opinion and taste matter. Her book is chock full of stories and pearls of wisdom distilled from a lifetime of enjoying art. She explains terms, demystifies art criticism and tells charming tales from her career as an art buyer, dealer and collector.

This book is beautifully written yet easy to understand, even for the novice. It is better than an Art History course at a University. The author clearly explains the origins and characteristics of Impressionalism through Abstract Art. The book is informative while being a pleasant reading experience.
Don't fail to read it!!

If youre looking for technical and detailed advice then do not buy this book. It should be titled "Personal Memoirs". I don't have the money to buy the artist that she talks about in this book. If I were considering a painting by Cassat or an etching by Braque then I would be well beyond what this book informs. If youre really a newcomer to collecting then buy a book that will teach you how to determine a paintings age by the condition of the canvas or how to distinguish a valuble lithograph. Anybody would know 90% of what this book advises.