The Shock of the New [Paperback]

Robert Hughes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 13, 1991

A beautifully illustrated hundred-year history of modern art, from cubism to pop and avant-guard. More than 250 color photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The author of The Fatal Shore and Time magazine's art critic here presents a greatly expanded version of a PBS television series on modern art, and includes some 270 color illustrations. Although he frequently deals in generalities, "choice anecdotes, telling characterizations, witty observations flow from his pen," lauded PW . The "chapters bristle with apt insights."
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

A beautifully illustrated hundred-year history of modern art, from cubism to pop and avant-guard. More than 250 color photos.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; Rev Sub edition (August 13, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679728767
• ISBN-13: 978-0679728764
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 1.1 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Modern

More About the Author

Robert Hughes was born in Australia in 1938 and has lived in Europe and the United States since 1964. Since 1970 he has worked in New York as an art critic for Time Magazine. He has twice received the Franklin Jeweer Mather Award for Distinguished Criticism from the College Art Association of America.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than an art book, by more than an art critic, November 8, 2000

By 

Michael E. McCarthy "Mac" (Castro Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Shock of the New: The Hundred-Year History of Modern Art: Its Rise, Its Dazzling Achievement, It's Fall (Paperback)

I bought and read the first edition of this book after seeing the 1979 PBS series Hughes hosted, and I heartily recommend both book (which I still have) and the TV show if you can find it anywhere. Hughes' special brilliance is his ability to show the revolution in art at the turn of the 20th century as reacting to the revolution in technology and living standards and the rapid changes in every part of society -- the "shock" of this race to "newnesss" that really starting picking up speed a hundred years ago. Also unique and priceless is Hughes' puckish sense of humor and willingness to express an opinion - even a negative opinion - about art and architectural movements.

This is art history for the intelligent nonartist -- you will greatly enjoy it!

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, sensible introduction to modern art for the curious, February 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Shock of the New: The Hundred-Year History of Modern Art: Its Rise, Its Dazzling Achievement, It's Fall (Paperback)

Robert Hughes manages to do what no other contemporary critics can, see painting as a painter does, rather than as a writer--writing about painting. As someone who makes my living as a painter, I'm always frustrated by the clueless interpretations of art historians and especially critics. Often, they simply don't get it! They're looking for philosophic meaning in every nuance of a painting, when any honest painter would tell you, sometimes "It's just because it looked good like that!" I would highly recommend Mr. Hughes's book. It is a very sensible, insightful, and readable text. As a painter, I was very impressed by his observations and how he managed to communicate some idea of how painters actually create their work. (Critics would have you believe they start with a manifesto/theory/or other B.S. It's usually a lot less mysterious than that and Hughes does a great job of demystifying it. Also, it's a great book to show someone the purpose and value of art since 1900. Great Book!

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable for the curious and the more experienced, March 16, 2000

By 

Lesley West (St James, Western Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Shock of the New: The Hundred-Year History of Modern Art: Its Rise, Its Dazzling Achievement, It's Fall (Paperback)

This is a famous art text and justly so. If you are wondering "just what is this modern art stuff?", this book will help you. If you are thinking "I don't know much about art but I know what I like" this book will surprise you with its magnificent colour plates and images. Robert Hughes can write reviews for the art glitterati, but he can also write for the average person with an interest in Modern Art, and very well he does it too!