Instant Art History: From Cave Art to Pop Art [Paperback]

Walter Robinson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0449906981 | ISBN-13: 978-0449906989 | Publication Date: February 21, 1995 | Edition: 1

From the prehistoric cave paintings to Andy Warhol's soup cans, this lively chronicle surveys the rich history of artistic expression. INSTANT ART HISTORY examines such geniuses as Michelangelo, da Vinci, Rembrandt, Renoir, van Gogh, and the Impressionists as well as Dali, Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky, and Lichtenstein.
With INSTANT ART HISTORY you'll learn:
* How Mona Lisa's smile changed forever the grim face of portrait sitters.
* The differences between Analytic and Synthetic Cubism.
* How the avant-garde movements of Constructivism, Dadaism, and Surrealism of the 1920s redefined how society viewed art.
* How the action paintings of the Abstract Expressionists allow the viewer to "feel" a painting, not just see it.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

From the prehistoric cave paintings to Andy Warhol's soup cans, this lively chronicle surveys the rich history of artistic expression. INSTANT ART HISTORY examines such geniuses as Michelangelo, da Vinci, Rembrandt, Renoir, van Gogh, and the Impressionists as well as Dali, Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky, and Lichtenstein.
With INSTANT ART HISTORY you'll learn:
* How Mona Lisa's smile changed forever the grim face of portrait sitters.
* The differences between Analytic and Synthetic Cubism.
* How the avant-garde movements of Constructivism, Dadaism, and Surrealism of the 1920s redefined how society viewed art.
* How the action paintings of the Abstract Expressionists allow the viewer to "feel" a painting, not just see it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (February 21, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449906981
• ISBN-13: 978-0449906989
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #714,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginners!, January 18, 2002

By 

"tj_s2art" (Statesville, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Instant Art History: From Cave Art to Pop Art (Paperback)

I have used this book for several years now. I have a degree in Art History and Art Education. I think this book is a great start for beginners or for those who just want to know a little more about art. I found the book very helpful for most of my high school students. As a matter of fact, two years ago I started using this book as a text book for the art History portion of our program. We use the book as a basis of study from which we delve into the historical events of the time. We then use these as a spring board. My students create projects to experience the different art of these eras. The book is written simply so that they can understand and throws in some humor here and there to keep it interesting. My only wish is that it came in a hard cover edition, as i have to keep replacing my copy I teach from!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to the world of art., July 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Instant Art History: From Cave Art to Pop Art (Paperback)

I recently graduated college with a degree in Art History. I used this book as a quick refrence when going to museums. It tells you about artists and artwork on a laymens level, helping you understand and learn about styles, periods and many other facets in the world of art.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect book to read before going to an art museum!, November 18, 2004

By 

Hello Kitty Ellen (Appleton, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Instant Art History: From Cave Art to Pop Art (Paperback)

I love this book because you can quickly learn about all the major periods of art - from the Renaissance's oil paintings to today's modern sculpture works. I recommend reading this before you go to an art museum, so you can brush up on who is famous for what. There are a few black and white photos of famous artwork, but mostly the book explains the type of art produced during each period, and the top 5 or so artists and what their most famous works are.