Lost Art

by Jennifer Mundy

Many assume that modern works of art are easily preserved; that their whereabouts can be readily established, thanks to sophisticated documentation sys­tems; and that, in general, they are not subject to loss or destruction. But many important works have disappeared over the last century in a variety of ways, including war, theft, natural catastrophe, and carelessness. Most signifi­cantly, loss itself has been a major theme within modern and contemporary art, with elements of transience central to the practice of many well-known figures. Grouped into 10 sections―Discarded, Missing, Rejected, Attacked, Destroyed, Erased, Ephemeral, Transient, Unrealized, and Stolen―this unique book surveys 40 case studies, looking at the stories behind lost works of art by artists such as Kandinsky, Miró, Kahlo, Christo, Keith Haring, and including Michael Landy’s 2001 project Break Down , in which he systematically destroyed every one of his possessions himself.

Genres: Art, History, Nonfiction, Art History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2014

Reviews

[Naomi]

Thought provoking. Makes me miss trouping around Florence behind Professor Marini taking us to see modern art in palazzos and sitting on my parents' sofa cramming for art history courses. Surprising to my friends as it may be, I actually am fond of a good chunk of modern art and I LOVE a good installation piece. The tactility of installations really connects with me. I love how experiential it is. I want this book for every century of art- such a great concept and well written and executed by Jennifer Mundy.

[Ashley Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing historical look at art history as a whole while offering an incredibly introspective experience that makes you think about the permanence of life and the level of impact art can have on our lives

[Vi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this and the People's Art History of the United States. This book, organized by themes and covering modern arts betrayal and misgivings, is a good read for those with some knowledge (not necessary to be a scholar) of western modern art and european history.

[Megan McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a degree in art history and I learned some new things