Understanding Art (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Designed to stimulate students' interests in all aspects of the visual arts, UNDERSTANDING ART has significantly impacted the way Art Appreciation courses are taught. One of the top-selling texts for the art appreciation course, UNDERSTANDING ART combines its strong coverage of art history, with comprehensive coverage and presentation of the visual elements, principles of design, and computer arts to provide a well-balanced discussion of the relevance and beauty of art and the media and methods used to produce art.

From the Publisher

Comprehensive and balanced, this widely-adopted introduction to art appreciation communicates the excitement, relevance, and beauty of art by combining stimulating discussions of the language and elements of art with extensive treatment of the history of art. It is especially designed to give non-art majors insights and access to art so that it may enrich them for a lifetime. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 7 edition (July 23, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534613624
• ISBN-13: 978-0534613624
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #654,955 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great start for beginner art enthusiasts, March 5, 2001

By	"robynmh" (Richmond, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Art (Textbook Binding)

I went to a multimedia school where I took a class on the fundamentals of art & design. Understanding Art was the required text book. Little would I know that I would still be talking about Understanding Art and recommending it for years after that class! (Just don't let my teacher know that!)

The book takes you throughout the history of art, starting from the earliest forms, throughout the middle ages, native traditional art, to the renaissance, to post modernism, to surrealism, to art deco, bauhaus, dada, and everything else. There isn't a form of art that isn't covered and illustrated, which is extremely beneficial, as you truly do learn how art forms evolved throughout the years. Another benefit to this book is that it covers the different medias in art - sculpture, paintings, print, masks, archetecture, and more.

The photographs of the artwork are present throughout the book, and the text gives you insight and background knowledge of each art era that you wouldn't otherwise see. One might usually associate art history text as boring and monotonous, but this is not the case. The text is informative and exciting to read all at the same time.

It's a great book for someone who's starting out in art history, but even long-time art fans will enjoy it too.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Place to Start Understanding Art, September 12, 2000

By	Barbara Strong "bstrong16" (Three Rivers, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Art (Paperback)

As a college Art History instructor and an avid reader, I can honestly say Lois Fichner-Rathus has produced one of the finest Art Appreciation texts on the market. The sixth edition of Understanding Art is both visually and intellectually exciting. With expanded coverage of the "Language of Art" (the visual elements and principles of design) and computer generated imagery, and a great companion Web site, this version is truly an advance over previous editions. Addional illustrations (many in color) add to the enjoyment of spending time with this updated classic.

Though I've referred to this as an Art Appreciation "text," it is by no means dry.The author's viewpoint and writing style are never boring and she continually exhibits great perceptiveness, and wit, in her commentary. The progression of the book's sections from a well-done "Introduction" to the "Language of Art," a look at the varying media of art, and finally a series of chapters on historical style, is well done and logical. Accolades to Fichner-Rathus!

4.0 out of 5 stars Help PLease, July 9, 2009

By	Courtney Naumann "courtneymaude" (Bucksport ME USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Understanding Art, Non-Media Version (Paperback)

AHH I need help! I have been trying to get the student access key for this book it's required for my art history summer class and I seem to be having a huge problem with! I have tried evreything and everyone from amazon straight to the publisher! If anyone has one or has any ideas please let me know or email me at [e-mail]