Understand Art History

For readers who want to develop their own opinions on art and hope to get more out of their visits to galleries and exhibitions, this guide provides all they need to know in order to gain confidence in their opinions. It begins by asking the fundamental question What exactly is art? before delving into the main historical approaches and interpretations, such as formalism, postmodernism, and context. The different art periods, styles, and genres are all considered in detail and illustrated with well-known examples, as are painting techniques and the way in which art is presented in museums and galleries.