Art History: Books

Covers: the ancient world, the middle ages, the world beyond Europe, the renaissance and the baroque and rococo, the modern and postmodern world.

Presenting a broad view of art through the centuries, this includes women and artists of color, and the arts of other continents and regions in addition to those of Western Europe and the United States.

With this book by China's foremost art historian, Lü Peng, the world finally has access to a comprehensive history of the development of Chinese art over the course of the last century.

Traces Murakami’s global impact socially, culturally, and art historically focusing on his early works, which were based on a social critique of Japan’s rampant consumerism; the development of his characters; his work with anime, fantasy; otaku culture; and his engagement with global pop culture.

This work displays and defines the fruits of thousands of years of black African creative endeavour. All the objects included were made by Africans for their own use, spanning a period from the beginning of the first millennium to the early 20th century, From publisher

This book follows the historical development of the Islamic regions and their ruling dynasties, and illustrates their greatly varied forms of artistic expression from the birth of the religion to the present day.

In About Looking he explores our role as observers to reveal new layers of meaning in what we see… Berger quietly -- but fundamentally -- alters the vision of anyone who reads his work. From publisher

The book's ten chapters examine the key themes in contemporary art--portraiture in the age of face transplants and facial recognition software, political activism, science, and religion, to name a few--by artists including Jeff Koons, Louise Bourgeois, Damien Hirst, George Condo, Marlene Dumas, Sean Scully, Cindy Sherman, Banksy, Ai Weiwei, Antony Gormley, Christo and Jean-Claude, Jenny Holzer, Chuck Close, and Cornelia Parker. A chapter-length timeline at the end of the book traces the evolution of art from 1989 to today by closely examining one key artwork from each year. From publisher

Through a selection of innovative readings by international scholars, this book presents the first investigation of the intersections between art, technology and nature in post-medieval times. Transdisciplinary in approach, this volume's 14 essays explore art, technology and nature's shifting constellations that are discernible at the micro level and as part of a larger chronological pattern. From publisher

A generously illustrated book, extraordinarily rich in insights, ideas, and information...Cahill throws light on individuals and specific issues, bringing out the diversity of what he portrays as an intensely experimental, 'self-conscious' age of Chinese painting... Susan E. Nelson Journal of Asian History

This collaboration also represents the first time that street artists have ever come together under a single theme, putting a modern spin on traditional exhibitions. By bringing new life to old masters, this provocative collection will have readers rethinking how they define art. From publisher

This comprehensive look at Western art from prehistoric times on up to the present has been completely redesigned and extensively revised and updated. In addition, the illustrations have all been enhanced, and a total of 443 are now in color. Gombrich is more than an authority, he's an advocate, and his love and deep respect for art infuse his invigorating text. Donna Seaman from Booklist

More than just the usual survey of Western art, ART captures the great artists, art movements, and cultures from all over the world. Filled with scores of gorgeous, oversized, full-color reproductions, readers will find over 500 pages of artists and their works, conveniently arranged from A to Z for quick and easy use. From publisher