A History of Western Art Review

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(More customer reviews)In a word - comprehensive. This book is beautiful from cover to cover and covers most of what you would expect, but adds detail in terms of comparing works of art in small side bars. A painting of a reclining Venus is brought up in sections covering later time periods to show the influence early art work had on the pieces of the day. A significant covering of 20th century art is also important to note as with that period now closed, we can see that it is more than just about Campbell's soup cans by Worhal.
I had the misfortune of having the flu but the recovery passed quickly as I spent literally most of the day reading through this book and reaquainting myself with the foundations of art. Now I see the influence of various forms of art in almost everything around me. As a designer I like to think that what I produce is new. Of course the best design borrows from the past...even if its a web page layout or corporate brocure. This coffee table sized book inspires me to realign and recognize that great art is to be inspiring as well as revolutionary.
I can hardly wait to get into the CD ROM again, which on first pass seems to beg for another sick day.

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Appropriate for one-semester art history surveys or historically-focused art appreciation classes, A History of Western Art, Fifth Edition, combines sound scholarship, lavish visuals, and a lively narrative to provide students with an accessible and engaging introduction to art history. Focusing on the Western canon, the text presents a compelling chronological narrative from prehistory to the present. A non-Western supplement, World Views: Topics in Non-Western Art, addresses specific areas of non-Western art and augments the Western chronology by illustrating moments of thematic relationships and cross-cultural contact.

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Responding to Art : Form, Content, & Context Review

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(More customer reviews)Robert Bersson has written a clear and accessible book on art history, incorporating hundreds of illustrations. His choices are relevant,linking the reader to the intricate evolution of visual arts on a continuum through history.
For the art historian,the art educator, and the art lover, Worlds of Art is a remarkable resource.

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Responding to Art: Form, Content, & Context is designed to excite and interest students with minimal knowledge of art and limited confidence in responding to it. To this end, the book starts at the students' introductory level and sets out to stimulate their interest and active participation. From the onset, Responding to Art integrates art and design forms that the students are already familiar with and have some interest in: including CD covers, magazine advertisements, fashion styles, websites, crafts, product design, and folk art. In addition, the book engages students and builds their confidence by incorporating into the opening chapter responses to art by introductory-level students like themselves. This sends an immediate message to the students that their own thoughts and feelings are valid, valued, and diverse. With expanded interest, confidence, and knowledge, students are prepared for more challenging art forms, information, and concepts.

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Living with Art Review

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(More customer reviews)"Living With Art" is a fairly common textbook for intro to art classes, but it manages to rise above the level of a superficial survey. Even though it's probably intended as a textbook, the format doesn't waste space for someone wishing to brush up on their art history outside of the classroom. By that I mean there aren't lengthy end-of-chapter reviews, projects, or answer keys. Having read fairly thoroughly in the field of art and aesthetics, I was not expecting to get a lot out of this book. How much can one really say about art in a single volume? Surprisingly, Getlein says a lot in a very readable, succinct manner.
The book starts out with the impossible question, "what is art"? One of the most pleasant surprises was the discussion of the nature of art. With such a variety of opinions and ideas, to present the major ones in a clear, concise manner is something of an achievement in itself. It sets the tone for the later chapters which are a straightforward history from ancient cave drawings to Jeff Koons inflatable lobsters.
The book itself is quite nice. The images are reproduced with all their detail and color intact. Granted, the images are small, but they are also plentiful. Virtually every point is supported with an image as an example. This is one textbook that students will want to hang on to.
As an alternative, I would recommend E.H. Gombrich's "The Story of Art". It's probably superior in every respect, but it's also a little more difficult for beginners and casual readers. That's not to say that most readers couldn't pick it up and get a lot out of it.
Whether you're looking to brush up on your art history, or you're a student and this is a required purchase, you have a lot to look forward to. I've seen a lot of "comprehensive" histories, but "Living With Art" ranks amongst the top.

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Throughout the previous seven editions, this text has earned a reputation for elegance and the highest standards of quality. Living with Art helps students develop an appreciation of art by offering a clear and comprehensive introduction to the visual arts from several perspectives: themes and purposes of art; the vocabulary of art; individual art media (painting, drawing, camera arts, sculpture, architecture, etc.); and the history of art. The book is rich with illustrations drawn from a wide range of artistic cultures and time periods.

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