A beautifully illustrated hundred-year history of modern art, from cubism to pop and avant-guard. More than 250 color photos.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
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.
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.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
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
58 of 58 people found the following review helpful
Format: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!
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format: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!
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By Lesley West
Format: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!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just what I needed
The book is for an Art History class I am taking for self-improvement.
It is in great 'used' condition; I did not want to pay the price for a new one. Read more
It is in great 'used' condition; I did not want to pay the price for a new one. Read more
Published 1 month ago by teach
5.0 out of 5 stars
GO-TO BOOK ON MODERN ART
Robert Hughes was brillant and when anyone inquires of a book to provide info and explanation of modern art, I send them to this! Plain and simple.
Published 1 month ago by bracket's mom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful overview.
Hughes is a fine writer with a vast knowledge of art and culture. This book is very enjoyable. He has strong opinions and quite a few original insights. Plenty of illustrations.
Published 3 months ago by J. Turmes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Please don't ask me for reviws
I don't know how to write a review and especially I find your questions difficult and the tricks one has to know to get them sent is far beyond my knowledge. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Paul Osipow
5.0 out of 5 stars
book
this was a gift for a friend she had been looking for it for months she was very happy when she recieved it .
Published 4 months ago by denise
5.0 out of 5 stars
Learning about modern art
This is a terrific book that fills in the kind of links in Modern art that you might be unaware of. Written beautifully by Robert Hughes... Read more
Published 7 months ago by paintergirl
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great resource for AP Art History Teachers
'The Shock of the New' is a wonderful Modern art resource for AP Art History teachers to add to their libraries.
Published 20 months ago by LaurenL
4.0 out of 5 stars
"The Age of the New has entered history"
Following an afternoon at our Modern Art Museum, I picked up Robert Hughes' _Shock of the New_. Based off his 8 part BBC series of the same name, Hughes chronicles the history of... Read more
Published on August 5, 2009 by doc peterson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Century of Art
I find this a very thorough, encompassing review of 20th century art, with the added bonus of an insightful general cultural background and a nice choice of illustrations. Read more
Published on May 1, 2009 by Melsorder
5.0 out of 5 stars
outside the vacuum looking inward
Robert Hughes book and companion documentary on the last hundred years or so on art and what has been produced is very observant. Read more
Published on February 28, 2008 by Carbonadam
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
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
