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The Meaning of Art

Faber Modern Classics
3.68 goodreads logo

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( 342 ratings, 19 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
The Meaning of Art by Herbert Read is a seminal introduction to art appreciation, tracing the evolution of artistic expression from primitive cave drawings to modern masters like Jackson Pollock. This concise survey defines the key elements behind paintings, sculptures, and art-objects across historical periods, illuminating enduring principles and aspirations in art. It offers clear summaries of major movements including Gothic, Baroque, Impressionism, Expressionism, and Surrealism, making it an essential guide for understanding the arts.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3299
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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?

This classic work is ideal for students, art enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a foundational understanding of art history and theory, presented in a succinct and accessible format.

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The classic art history work brought into the Faber Modern Classics series.

The classic art history work brought into the Faber Modern Classics series.

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

Since its first appearance in 1931, Herbert Read's introduction to the understanding of art has established itself as a classic of its kind. It provides a basis for the appreciation of paintings, sculpture, and art-objects of all periods by defining the elements that went into their making.

A compact survey of the world's art, from primitive cave-drawings to Jackson Pollock, The Meaning of Art explains the persistence of certain principles and aspirations throughout the history of art, and summarises the essence of such movements as Gothic, Baroque, Impressionism, Expressionism, and Surrealism.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571329755

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 February 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main - Faber Modern Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Will Gompertz

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 200g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Sir Herbert Read (1893-1968) was a poet, and a literary and art critic. From 1922 to 1931 he was a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1931, when his influential primer The Meaning of Art was first published, he became professor in fine art at the University of Edinburgh, before taking on the editorship of the Burlington Magazine. An influential figure in the art world, he was one of the organisers of the 1936 London International Surrealist Exhibition and co-founded the Institute of Contemporary Art in 1947.

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