The Art Book Big Ideas Simply Explained [Hardcover]

Discover what makes a piece a significant work of art and tour history's greatest masterpieces. See the master works of Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and more.

From prehistoric cave paintings to postmodern art,The Art Bookexplores more than 100 different movements, periods, and works throughout history, including ancient Assyrian sculpture and contemporary Japanese multimedia works. Art's theories and themes are more approachable and easier to understand through innovative graphics and creative typography.

Part of DK's award-winning Big Ideas Simply Explained series,The Art Bookprofiling more than 100 artists and 200 pieces of work, and covers paintings, drawing, sculptures, ready-mades, land art, installations, and more. Follow how art changed in the Medieval world to the 18th century to the modern age. Study famous pieces of art including Venus of Willendorf, The Book of Kells, and Rembrandt's Self-Portrait. Learn the differences between Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, and Roy Lichtenstein.

With stunning images and graphics, clear writing, an artist directory, and a vocabulary glossary,The Art Bookis the perfect introduction to the complex and exciting world of art.

[The Big Ideas Simply Explained books] are beautifully illustrated with shadow-like cartoons that break down even the most difficult concepts so they are easier to grasp. These step-by-step diagrams are an incredibly clever learning device to include, especially for visual learners. —Examiner.com

The visual layout promotes browsing with illustrations, pull quotes, and simple mind maps to explain concepts quickly. —Library Journal

Accessible guide to the great thinkers. —School Library Journal