Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Art: The Whole Story - Stephen Farthing (General Editor)

There is no society that has lacked art. 
Depiction and decoration , like storytelling and music are natural to human beings as nest building to most birds. 
The forms that art has taken have varied radically in different times and places , under the influence of differing social and cultural circumstances. 
What was the original purpose of these works of art and how can we understand them today ? Why did art flourish in some periods of history and not in others? 
Why are some individual pieces of art so significant?
 If you've ever found yourself transfixed by a Renaissance painting, fascinated by an Inca textile, or filled with wonder by an exquisite piece of Ming porcelain, this is the book for you.

This comprehensive, vibrant book leads you through the world’s iconic images – those that we encounter every time we open a newspaper, visit a gallery, or look at the front cover of a novel.
 Venture inside its pages and discover exactly what the great artistic periods and movements of the world were all about. 
Art: The Whole Story begins with an incisive historical overview that places art in the context of the social and cultural developments that have taken place around the world since pre-state societies. 
Organized chronologically,  the book then traces the evolution of artistic development period by period and movement by movement. 
Illustrated (more than 1100 color illustrations !) in-depth text covers every genre of art, from painting and sculpture to conceptual art and performance art. 
A thorough assessment of the ideas and works of key artists reveals how one artist influenced another and what they were trying to achieve with their work.
 Detailed cultural and individual artist timelines clarify historical context.
 Individual masterpieces that epitomize the defining characteristics of each period or movement are highlighted and analyzed in detail. 
Everything from use of color and visual metaphors to technical innovations and lasting legacy is explained, enabling you to interpret the full meaning of world-famous masterpieces as never before. 
Marvel at the intricacies of Mughal miniatures; learn the significance of Japanese prints in the nineteenth century; understand the science behind the color theories that informed Seurat's remarkable La Grande Jatte; and discover why Picasso's Les Demoiselles D'Avignon was considered to be shocking in its day. 
 Written by an experienced international team of artists, art historians and curators, this absorbing and beautiful book gives you priceless insights into the worlds most iconic images. 
Since the earliest prehistoric sculptures and cave paintings, humankind has felt compelled to record its creative impulses. 
Today, the urge to draw,paint, print and sculpt is more apparent than ever, and continues to inform who we are and how we live.
 If you love art and would like to understand it better, look no further than the pages of Art: The Whole Story. 
 [Based on the book description available at Amazon.com and  on the book jacket]
'His prose is easy and flowing, not a word is wasted, and everything is seen in precise and daylight-clear shape.' His Style impresses itself on the reader's mind as expressive of a calm conviction, unmixed with emotion.

Unlike earlier foreign biographers of Ramakrishna-Max Muller and Remain Rolland-Isherwood did not write of him as a distant admirer, but as a devotee who enjoyed an advantage over them; for he had at his disposal more material, collected through a careful Study of not only Ramakrishna literature, but also Hindu Religion and philosophy, besides two visits to India. - See more at: http://www.printsasia.in/book/ramakrishna-and-his-disciples-christopher-isherwood-8185301182-9788185301181#sthash.Z4N9VklV.dpuf
'His prose is easy and flowing, not a word is wasted, and everything is seen in precise and daylight-clear shape.' His Style impresses itself on the reader's mind as expressive of a calm conviction, unmixed with emotion.

Unlike earlier foreign biographers of Ramakrishna-Max Muller and Remain Rolland-Isherwood did not write of him as a distant admirer, but as a devotee who enjoyed an advantage over them; for he had at his disposal more material, collected through a careful Study of not only Ramakrishna literature, but also Hindu Religion and philosophy, besides two visits to India. - See more at: http://www.printsasia.in/book/ramakrishna-and-his-disciples-christopher-isherwood-8185301182-9788185301181#sthash.Z4N9VklV.dpuf
'His prose is easy and flowing, not a word is wasted, and everything is seen in precise and daylight-clear shape.' His Style impresses itself on the reader's mind as expressive of a calm conviction, unmixed with emotion.
Unlike earlier foreign biographers of Ramakrishna-Max Muller and Remain Rolland-Isherwood did not write of him as a distant admirer, but as a devotee who enjoyed an advantage over them; for he had at his disposal more material, collected through a careful Study of not only Ramakrishna literature, but also Hindu Religion and philosophy, besides two visits to India. - See more at: http://www.printsasia.in/book/ramakrishna-and-his-disciples-christopher-isherwood-8185301182-9788185301181#sthash.Z4N9VklV.dpuf


 My Comments:
Fully agree with the above book description. Closely examining each illustration was an experience by itself. Wonder how marvelous it would be to see the artistic pieces in real life.
Fairly decent coverage of Indian Art (most art books focus only on Western Art), though it would have been better if great Indian artists like Tagore, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher Gill, Raja Ravi Varma, MF Hussain etc. had got a mention at least. 

Goodreads Rating - 4.46 out of 5 ( 61 Ratings)

   

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