Modern Art: A Critical Introduction

by Pam Meecham

Modern A Critical Introduction is a comprehensive introduction to the artists, movements and theories of twentieth century art history. Spanning a century of art from Manet to Damien Hirst and Rachel Whiteread, the authors follow the development of traditional genres such as the female nude, and trace the emergence of new theories and approaches which fragmented modern art into a bewildering variety of 'isms' from Expressionism to Constructivism. The
* explores key themes of the modern era, such as the figure of the nude, the changing nature of self-expression, and the question of the display of art works
* covers the major movements of the twentieth century, including futurism, constructivism, abstract expressionism, dada, surrealism, fauvism, performance art, post-modernism and contemporary art
* relates artistic movements to their social and cultural contexts
* is richly illustrated with over 100 picutres

Genres: Art

280 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2000

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book because I love modern art but don't know much about art in the formal sense, i.e. I'm not an artist and have no training in art or art history. I thought it would be more difficult to read and that reading it for my own personal edification would be a struggle. It wasn't. I actually really enjoyed reading this book and I learned a lot about the modern art period, and even about specific paintings or sculptures I had seen in museums but knew nothing about apart from that I liked them. If you're a fan of modern art or a beginning student and would like to know more, I think this book is a good place to start.