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The Handy Art History Answer Book
The Art of Discovery. The Discovery of Art. The History of Art! Warhol, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. Picasso, Monet, and Rembrandt, Ai WeiWei and Jenny Holzer. What were they thinking when they created their masterworks? While we can't always know an artist's exact thoughts, The Handy Art History Answer Book examines their benefactors, their wealth or poverty, their passions, the politics, and the world events that inspired and influenced them. Explore their techniques and materials, the forms, colors and styles, the movements and schools of thoughts, and discover the varied forms and nature of artistic expression. Tracing art history from cave paintings to contemporary installations, along with Romanticism, Impressionism and the numerous “isms” in-between, The Handy Art History Answer Book guides you through the major art movements, artists, and important art pieces from 35,000 B.C.E. to today. This fascinating book provides an overview of art from its history and basic principles to its evolution, philosophy, and the masters who created groundbreaking works that changed its course forever. Accessible and entertaining, this captivating book answers over 600 questions, such as …
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 3, 2020
Overview of mankind's expression of his world in diverse mediums of Art.
Art of the Ancient World 400-1300
The Medieval World
The Early Modern World 1300-1600
Baroque and Beyond 1600 -1850
From the Industrial Revolution to World War I 1850-1914
The Modern World 1914-1960
Contemporary Art 1960-present
Art of the Ancient World 400-1300
The Medieval World
The Early Modern World 1300-1600
Baroque and Beyond 1600 -1850
From the Industrial Revolution to World War I 1850-1914
The Modern World 1914-1960
Contemporary Art 1960-present
January 3, 2017
I took an AP Art History class back in high school, but the young, immature me was not at that stage of life to fully appreciate what I was learning. Sixteen years later, I had a hankering to start learning about Art History again. After an internet search showed that an actual Art History textbook would cost me an arm and a leg, I checked the public library. There were a couple of Art History textbooks, but they were in the reference section and couldn't be taken out of the library. So, I decided on this book after searching the catalog a bit more.
I think that this book would be good for anybody with little to no knowledge of Art History and needed a starting point. The topics covered in this book are quite wide but not particularly deep. A more studied person of Art History will probably find this book severely lacking. After reading this book, the average reader will probably be able to tackle a more in depth book on Art History after getting a nice overview of the large subject.
One thing to note, that while this book does focus mostly on Western Art History, it does try to highlight some of the prominent works throughout the world in different areas and cultures. In addition tot this, the author does make it a point to talk about female artist, especially in time periods where their contributions are often overlooked.
One reason that this book took a bit longer than usual to finish is that I was actively searching pictures mentioned in the book on Google Images. After awhile, Google was able to do a good job of predicting the next picture I was looking for based on only a couple of letters that I had input. With the modern age of the internet, delegating the task of providing images to Google does have some benefits despite the (quite minimal amount of) effort needed to search for the various pieces of art. The biggest benefit is being able to zoom into pictures and see them in more detailed compared to relatively small pictures that are provided in the book.
Overall, it was a nice book and helped me remember quite a bit of what I learned in AP Art History. For any amateur Art History buffs, this book is a good starting point or a quick reference.
I think that this book would be good for anybody with little to no knowledge of Art History and needed a starting point. The topics covered in this book are quite wide but not particularly deep. A more studied person of Art History will probably find this book severely lacking. After reading this book, the average reader will probably be able to tackle a more in depth book on Art History after getting a nice overview of the large subject.
One thing to note, that while this book does focus mostly on Western Art History, it does try to highlight some of the prominent works throughout the world in different areas and cultures. In addition tot this, the author does make it a point to talk about female artist, especially in time periods where their contributions are often overlooked.
One reason that this book took a bit longer than usual to finish is that I was actively searching pictures mentioned in the book on Google Images. After awhile, Google was able to do a good job of predicting the next picture I was looking for based on only a couple of letters that I had input. With the modern age of the internet, delegating the task of providing images to Google does have some benefits despite the (quite minimal amount of) effort needed to search for the various pieces of art. The biggest benefit is being able to zoom into pictures and see them in more detailed compared to relatively small pictures that are provided in the book.
Overall, it was a nice book and helped me remember quite a bit of what I learned in AP Art History. For any amateur Art History buffs, this book is a good starting point or a quick reference.
July 16, 2017
3.5 Stars
I can't say that this is technically finished as I didn't read it word for word or read every passage, but I read what interested me and that was the purpose of this book.
While most art history books are set in a novel form this is set in a question and and answer form. If you were using it as a research guide for a specific topic, the Q&A format is wonderful. It's easy to know exactly what you are reading and the information is clear and it is explained thoroughly.
It just makes it dry to read and it doesn't hold your attention if you are sitting and reading through it like a novel.
This book has several wonderful visuals of the art pieces it alludes too, but in my opinion too many images are left un-printed. I constantly found myself stopping several times on every page to look up a sculpture or a painting that the book talks about but that has no visual.
Overall, if you are trying to research or study a specific set topic, this is is the book to go to. But if you just want a book to sit and read, this is probably not the book to get.
I can't say that this is technically finished as I didn't read it word for word or read every passage, but I read what interested me and that was the purpose of this book.
While most art history books are set in a novel form this is set in a question and and answer form. If you were using it as a research guide for a specific topic, the Q&A format is wonderful. It's easy to know exactly what you are reading and the information is clear and it is explained thoroughly.
It just makes it dry to read and it doesn't hold your attention if you are sitting and reading through it like a novel.
This book has several wonderful visuals of the art pieces it alludes too, but in my opinion too many images are left un-printed. I constantly found myself stopping several times on every page to look up a sculpture or a painting that the book talks about but that has no visual.
Overall, if you are trying to research or study a specific set topic, this is is the book to go to. But if you just want a book to sit and read, this is probably not the book to get.
January 21, 2023
The Q&A format of this book was a bit of an adjustment for my usual cover-to-cover treatment, but this text was well-organized and densely informative. I've tried to remember as many of the artist's names as I can, and I have quizzed myself a bit after reaching the end by flipping to a random page and trying to identify the work. Alas, this book goes back to the library next week, and I will have surrendered my brief journey back in time to the experience of cramming for an exam.
May 22, 2024
WHAT IS RIDICULOUS?
The author has chosen to create questions about art and answer with verbal descriptions and minimal illustrations.
Instead of asking 'What is the Great Sphinx?', say 'This is the Great Sphinx' and tell its creator and history.
Seriously!! This book taught me nothing! LESS than nothing!!
The author has chosen to create questions about art and answer with verbal descriptions and minimal illustrations.
Instead of asking 'What is the Great Sphinx?', say 'This is the Great Sphinx' and tell its creator and history.
Seriously!! This book taught me nothing! LESS than nothing!!
December 31, 2021
Very helpful.
April 30, 2020
Sanat hakkında hiçbir fikri olmayan insana bile bir sanat omurgası oluşturabilecek bir kitap. Gereksiz ayrıntıya boğmadan, tüm sanat tarihi ancak böyle anlatılabilir.
Rokoko adı 18. Yüzyılda bahçelerim ayrılmaz unsurları olan “deniz kabuğu” ve “çakıl” süslemelerini betimlemekte kullanılan Fransıza rocaille sözcüğünden gelmektedir. 19. Yüzyıl eleştirmenleri bu terimi 18. Yüzyılın zevksiz, şatafatlı eserlerinden küçümseyici bir şekilde kullanmıştır. Rokoko mimarisi, fevkalede süslüdür ve düz veya çizgisel formlardan ziyade kıvrımlı formlar, pastel renkler ve fantezi veya heves unsurlarıyla nitelendirilir. Resimler pastel renkleri, aristokrat aşıkların ve mitolojik figürlerin zarif havai sahnelerini içerir. İlkin birleşik bir tarz olarak Paris’te gelişmiştir ve özellikle Fransa Kralı XV. Louis ve burjuvazinin veya üst-orta sınıfın yükselişiyle ilişkilendirilmektedir
Budizmin Dört Yüce Gerçeği:
1)Hayat dukkhadır (acı çekmek stres veya doyumsuzluk olarak çevrilmiştir)
2)Dukkhanın temeli tanhadır (ihtiras veya bağımlılık olarak çevrilmiştir)
3)Dukkha ortadan kaldırılabilir
4)Dukkhanın ortadan kaldırma yolu “Sekiz Aşamalı Asil Yolu” izlemektir
Budist gelenekte 8 Aşamalı Asil Yol, Nirvana’ya ulaşmak, yani birbirini izleyen ölüm ve bedenlenme döngüsünden çıkmak ve dukkhadan kurtulmak için takip edilecek bir dizi ilkeden oluşur. Buddha’nın öğretileri genellikle bir tekerlekle temsil edilir ve genellikle “Yasa Tekerliği” diye bilinir
Rokoko adı 18. Yüzyılda bahçelerim ayrılmaz unsurları olan “deniz kabuğu” ve “çakıl” süslemelerini betimlemekte kullanılan Fransıza rocaille sözcüğünden gelmektedir. 19. Yüzyıl eleştirmenleri bu terimi 18. Yüzyılın zevksiz, şatafatlı eserlerinden küçümseyici bir şekilde kullanmıştır. Rokoko mimarisi, fevkalede süslüdür ve düz veya çizgisel formlardan ziyade kıvrımlı formlar, pastel renkler ve fantezi veya heves unsurlarıyla nitelendirilir. Resimler pastel renkleri, aristokrat aşıkların ve mitolojik figürlerin zarif havai sahnelerini içerir. İlkin birleşik bir tarz olarak Paris’te gelişmiştir ve özellikle Fransa Kralı XV. Louis ve burjuvazinin veya üst-orta sınıfın yükselişiyle ilişkilendirilmektedir
Budizmin Dört Yüce Gerçeği:
1)Hayat dukkhadır (acı çekmek stres veya doyumsuzluk olarak çevrilmiştir)
2)Dukkhanın temeli tanhadır (ihtiras veya bağımlılık olarak çevrilmiştir)
3)Dukkha ortadan kaldırılabilir
4)Dukkhanın ortadan kaldırma yolu “Sekiz Aşamalı Asil Yolu” izlemektir
Budist gelenekte 8 Aşamalı Asil Yol, Nirvana’ya ulaşmak, yani birbirini izleyen ölüm ve bedenlenme döngüsünden çıkmak ve dukkhadan kurtulmak için takip edilecek bir dizi ilkeden oluşur. Buddha’nın öğretileri genellikle bir tekerlekle temsil edilir ve genellikle “Yasa Tekerliği” diye bilinir
September 14, 2015
This is not quite a reference book, but it carries a lot of information in a systematic way. If you were an art history scholar, it would be far too easy. But, if you are trying to teach someone about art who knows nothing or next to nothing, it works very well.
The book could have used more illustrations, but that would have driven up the price.
The book could have used more illustrations, but that would have driven up the price.
December 29, 2022
Awesome! It was compact, yet thorough. I would have liked even more photos for some of the art, but it was comprehensive enough with an easy-to-understand timeline format. It covered basic art techniques, well-known relics, and even architectural elements. I’d recommend this for a thorough foundation of art history.
December 3, 2013
A return visit to Art History at MSUO. The question/answer format help link things together. Also, it allowed for stop/start reading such that the reader can "take breaks." Greatly illustrated in color. All in all, an enjoyable read about a favorite topic.
January 25, 2014
The Handy Art History Book by Madelynn Dickerson (Visible Ink Press 2013) (709) is a fine addition to the "Visible Ink Press" stable of titles which provide accessible background reference information to dilettantes like me. My rating: 7.5/10, finished 1/24/14.
August 13, 2014
A little bit of everything, good for trivia.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews