The 20th Century Art Book

The 20th Century Art Book was hailed upon its release as an exciting celebration of the myriad forms assumed by art over the last century. Complementing the phenomenally successful landmark, Art Book, and most recently The American Art Book, it presents a new and original way of bringing art alive. The new mini edition has all the visual energy and compelling insights of the original but in a lightweight and highly portable format, making it ideal both for dipping into and for using as a serious sourcebook.

Covering the truly international nature of the modern art scene, The 20th Century Art Book encompasses established and iconic works of art and the classics of the future. 500 artists are juxtaposed in alphabetical order, each represented by a full-page colour plate of a definitive work accompanied by an incisive text that sheds light on both image and creator.

This book is above all perfectly easy to use. There are cross-references help the reader make connections between artists, a jargon-free glossary of artistic terms and movements, and an international directory of museums and galleries lists the works on view to the public. Ideal for those approaching the subject for the first time, it is a fun and inviting look at the ever-expanding boundaries of art.

One of the most complete representations of this century's art to hit the shelves in years, The 20th-Century Art Book offers 500 full-page reproductions, each by a different artist. No matter how famous, each artist has but one page, accompanied by a concise, informative block of text. Presented in alphabetical order, each artist, regardless of stature, is treated in exactly the same manner as the other 499 others in the book. Some images are delightfully complimented, others deeply agitated by the work that, by chance of the alphabet, happens to lie on the facing page.