American Art: History and Culture

by Wayne Craven

American Art: History and Culture is the first inclusive look at five centuries of the architecture, painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and photography created by the diverse peoples who have given direction to the arts of America. Renowned Americanist Wayne Craven has written an engrossing, illuminating text that begins in the time before North America's encounter with Europe and Europeans in the sixteenth century and continues into its seventeenth-century colonial beginnings in the Middle Atlantic and New England regions. The story goes on for another three centuries, right through the pluralistic expressions of contemporary American culture of the 1990s. Acknowledging that there are several ways to study American art, Craven has chosen an approach that is current and accessible - a contextual treatment that discusses the works of art in the circumstances of their creation. The contexts he provides include the social, economic, and religious climates in which works were created; the political, philosophical, and technological movements that influenced their creators; and the scientific and literary postures that affected the forms the artworks took. The narrative blends in biographical information and stylistic analysis along with the latest research on artists, architects, artisans, objects, archaeology, and techniques. Illustrated with nearly eight hundred color and black-and-white pictures, American Art: History and Culture includes a bibliography that is significantly larger and more up-to-date than can be found in other books on American art, a glossary of art-historical terms, and two maps. Whether as a first look at American art or as a return visit to a field that haschanged greatly in the last few years, this book is a matchless resource.

Genres: Art, Art History, History, Nonfiction

687 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for: American Art

Craven is a typical old white guy art historian, only concerned with other old white guys. Women rarely mentioned and than almost always have their marital status included. Native Americans are idiots. Columbus was some sort of national hero. etc. etc. etc. The publisher tried to save money by printing some images in black and white which severely detracts from the appreciation of the work. A decent survey with decent critique and historical information if you can look beyone Craven's bias.

[Grace Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took this course online this semester which was very interesting and a little hard. I passed it with a 73% which is a C.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text here was good, offering interesting background information on artists and context for the pieces (especially furniture shown). BUT a lot of the pictures were black and white, which drove me crazy and the sections on furniture were still alienating (though that might say more about me than about the book).

[Tina Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have reviewed a few American Art History books for teaching the subject to high school students. This is the best book I have found for that purpose. It is very comprehensive in touching upon different styles, movements and artists and understandable to the average high school reader.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

used as jumping off point for american art and architecture class. pretty thorough.

i'm so desperate i'm putting textbooks on my list but i enjoyed it and i'm not ashamed to say it.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource!!!