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A History of Pictures

From the Cave to the Computer Screen
4.36 goodreads logo

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( 851 ratings, 104 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
A History of Pictures by David Hockney and Martin Gayford explores the evolution of how pictures have been created and perceived, spanning from ancient cave paintings to modern digital images. The authors, through a lively dialogue, examine the power and purpose of images in different contexts, drawing from their profound insights and experiences within the art world. The book delves into the relationship between technology and art, illustrating how each influences the other across different eras.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4899
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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 appreciate exploring the evolution of art through the eyes of a celebrated artist and a knowledgeable art critic. It offers fascinating insights into how pictures have been created and interpreted throughout history, from cave paintings to digital media. This engaging narrative is perfect for anyone curious about the influence and transformation of visual storytelling across different cultures and eras.

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A new, compact edition of David Hockney and Martin Gayford’s brilliantly original book, with a revised final chapter and three entirely new Hockney artworks

A new, compact edition of David Hockney and Martin Gayford's brilliantly original book, with a revised final chapter and three entirely new Hockney artworks

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

I won't read a more interesting book all year... utterly fascinating – A. N. Wilson, Sunday Times

Enormously good-humoured and entertaining... Hockney asks big questions about the nature of picture-making and the relationship between painters and photography in a way that no other contemporary artists seems to. – Andrew Marr, New Statesman

A new, compact edition of David Hockney and Martin Gayford's brilliantly original book, with a revised final chapter and three entirely new Hockney artworks.

Informed and energised by a lifetime of painting, drawing and making images with cameras, David Hockney, in collaboration with the art critic Martin Gayford, explores how and why pictures have been made across the millennia. What makes marks on a flat surface interesting? How do you show movement in a still picture, and how, conversely, do films and television connect with old masters?

Juxtaposing a rich variety of images – a still from a Disney cartoon with a Japanese woodblock print by Hiroshige, a scene from an Eisenstein film with a Velázquez painting – the authors cross the normal boundaries between high culture and popular entertainment, and make unexpected connections across time and media.

Building on Hockney's groundbreaking book Secret Knowledge, they argue that film, photography, painting and drawing are deeply interconnected. Insightful and thought-provoking, A History of Pictures is an important contribution to our appreciation of how we represent our reality.

This new edition has a revised final chapter with some of Hockney's latest works, including the stained-glass window in Westminster Abbey.

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?

A History of Pictures by David Hockney and Martin Gayford is praised for its engaging and entertaining exploration of picture-making and the relationship between different art forms. Reviews highlight the book's ability to refresh perceptions, offering a vibrant and insightful conversation between Hockney and Gayford. The book is commended for its vivid illustrations and thought-provoking insights, making readers view art and cinema with new eyes.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780500094235

Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 20 February 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Edition: New Edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 165.0mm

Height: 240.0mm

Weight: 1080g

Pages: 372

About the Author

David Hockney is considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century. He has produced work in almost every medium - painting, drawing, stage design, photography and printmaking - and has stretched the boundaries of all of them. Born in Bradford, England, in 1937, Hockney attended art school in London before moving to Los Angeles in the 1960s. There, he painted his famous swimming pool paintings. In a 2011 poll of more than 1,000 British artists, Hockney was voted the most influential British artist of all time. He continues to create and exhibit art. Martin Gayford is art critic for The Spectator and the author of acclaimed books on Van Gogh, Constable and Michelangelo. He is the author of Man with a Blue Scarf, Rendez-vous with Art and A Bigger Message. He has collaborated with David Hockney on A Bigger Message: Conversations with David Hockney and A History of Pictures, and has co-written a volume of travels and conversations with Philippe de Montebello: Rendez-vous with Art.

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