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Composition

Uncover the ideas behind great works of modern art
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
Composition explores how traditional rules of artistic composition have evolved in response to modern technological, social, and cultural shifts. Michael Archer examines the transformation of art from classical harmony to contemporary expressions shaped by photography, digital media, and changing social attitudes.

The book highlights artists who have challenged Western compositional normsβ€”such as Edouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh, and Mary Cassattβ€”and traces this trajectory to the innovative methods of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Tania Bruguera, Meleko Mokgosi, and others. Archer provides readers with insightful frameworks for interpreting the art of today through a diverse range of perspectives.
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Format: Hardback
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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?

Composition is ideal for art students, contemporary art enthusiasts, and readers interested in the ways cultural and technological changes influence artistic practice. Its accessible writing makes it suitable for both newcomers and those familiar with art history.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A comprehensive and contemporary guide to every decision an artist or creative makes.

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

The rules of composition have changed. Discover the new ideas that shape the art we make today.

Art has changed beyond recognition since the principles of harmonious composition were established in classical times. From the invention of photography to the digital revolution, technological and social advances have transformed the way we see the world. This new vision, influenced by changing attitudes, not least towards gender roles and the West's colonial history, is reflected in the art we make.

From the rejection of Western compositional orthodoxy by artists such as Edouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh, and Mary Cassatt, to the revolutionary practices of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Tania Bruguera, Meleko Mokgosi, and many others, acclaimed art critic and writer Michael Archer reveals the ideas and intentions behind a thrillingly diverse selection of artworks, giving readers a new set of tools for understanding art today.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781781578612

Publisher: Octopus Publishing Group

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 13 April 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Ilex

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 222.0mm

Height: 278.0mm

Weight: 1460g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Michael Archer is an art critic, writer and Professor Emeritus at Goldsmiths, University of London. He holds a BA in History of Art from the University of Cambridge and an MA in Aesthetic Education from Manchester University. Formerly Editor at Artscribe and Assistant Editor at Art Monthly, his work has appeared in newspapers and journals including Artforum, Art Monthly, Frieze, Parkett and the Guardian and in numerous monographs and catalogues. He is the author of Art Since 1960 (Thames & Hudson), and contributed chapters on modern and contemporary art to Hugh Honour and John Fleming's A World History of Art (Laurence King).

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