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What Are You Looking At?

150 Years of Modern Art in the Blink of an Eye
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( 13,043 ratings, 686 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
What Are You Looking At? by Will Gompertz is a captivating exploration of modern art, demystifying its history and movements from Impressionism to contemporary practices. Gompertz, drawing on his expertise, offers insightful anecdotes and analysis, helping readers understand and appreciate the fascinating evolution of the art world over the past 150 years. The book is engaging for both seasoned art aficionados and newcomers alike.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have an interest in understanding modern art and its history. It offers an engaging journey through the art world, breaking down complex concepts with wit and clarity, making it ideal for both art enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

What is modern art? Why do we either love it or loathe it? And why is it worth so much damn money? This book asks all the basic questions that you were too afraid to ask.

Refreshing, irreverent and always straightforward, What Are You Looking At? asks the basic questions that you were too afraid to ask.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

For the sceptics, the art lovers, and the five million of us who visit the Tate every year – the funniest, liveliest and most accessible history of modern art ever written, by the BBC Arts Editor.

What is modern art? Why do we either love it or loathe it? And why is it worth so much damn money? Join Will Gompertz on a dazzling tour that will change the way you look at modern art forever.

You will learn: not all conceptual art is bollocks; Picasso is king (but Cezanne is better); Pollock is no drip; Dali painted with his moustache; a urinal changed the course of art; and why your five-year-old really couldn't do it.

Refreshing, irreverent and always straightforward, What Are You Looking At? asks the basic questions that you were too afraid to ask.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Will Gompertz's book is praised for being an engaging and lively journey through modern art, offering a fresh, energetic perspective while making complex concepts accessible and entertaining. Reviewers appreciate his ability to describe iconic artworks vividly and note his skill in avoiding jargon, making art history both fun and understandable. His narrative has been likened to a modern update of Robert Hughes's work, incorporating references to contemporary culture in a way that enhances the exploration of art movements.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241965993

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 April 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Illustration: 16 Pages of Colour Pictures, and black and white integrated pictures

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 394g

Pages: 464

About the Author

As the BBC's Arts Editor, Will Gompertz has interviewed and observed many of the world's leading artists, actors, writers, musicians, directors and designers. Creativity magazine in New York ranked him as one of the 50 most original thinkers in the world. He is the author of the internationally bestselling What Are You Looking At? and Think Like an Artist, both translated into more than 20 languages.

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