Concepts of Modern Art: From Fauvism to Postmodernism

World of Art

by Nikos Stangos

It is common knowledge that the visual arts in the twentieth century have been going through wide-ranging and bewildering revolutions; moreover, richly diverse stylistic trends have often been historically concurrent. This book presents to the student and the general reader the main concepts and developments of art from about 1900 to the present, from Fauvism to Conceptualism, in authoritative essays by some of the most distinguished art historians and critics in Britain and the United States. This revised edition brings the story of modern art up to date to the beginning of the 1980s: two new chapters discuss the uncompromising principles of Minimal Art and of Conceptual Art which came to deny even the most basic assumption of what art was about - the art object itself. Bibliographies have been updated and the number of illustrations increased to take account of the new material.

Since Concepts of Modern Art was first published in 1974 it has established itself as a uniquely valuable and informative critical account of the trends of modern art. This new edition will ensure that it continues to fulfill that role.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History, History, Reference, Cultural, School

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Born in Athens, Greece in 1936 to a well-to-do Greek family - his father attended MIT - Stangos was sent to the United States for much of his education, receiving a BA from Denison University, earning an MA from Wesleyan and doing graduate work in philosophy at Harvard. Nothing if not cosmopolitan, he finally settled in London, where he eventually became a poetry editor at Penguin and, later, a director for Thames & Hudson, with responsibility for many of that company's widely admired art books. In 1965 Stangos met the American-born In writer David Plante, and the two young men fell in love and remained partners for nearly 40 years. The Pure Lover: A Memoir of Grief is Plante's re-creation of their now-vanished life together. Stangos died of cancer in 2004.
- adapted from Michael Dirda's Washington Post article, "Elegy to a Lost Love"

Reviews

[Nikoleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πολυ καλό βιβλίο, έχει συγκεντρώσει δοκίμια των καλύτερων μελετητών διεθνώς και παρουσιάζει όλες τις έννοιες και την ιστορία του κάθε κινήματος και ρεύματος της μοντέρνας τέχνης. Δεν το θεωρώ βιβλίο βάση, πιστεύω οτι για να το κατανοήσει κανείς πρεπει να έχει ξεκινήσει απο πιο απλά βιβλία.

[Egor xS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very uneven, some essays are brilliant (i.e. John Golding on cubism) whereas others should be dismissed (like Aaron Scharf's). Selection of illustrations is disappointing - the fact that they are black and white is tolerable - but the choices could be more corresponding to the texts.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was for me quite enlightening to read about, learning about, and see works from Kasimir Malevich. Quite the abstractionist indeed! And that all our "humanness" comes from the square. This elemental item which "does not occur in nature."

Again, this then is the enlightening part. That from the Vitruvian Man of Leonardo da Vinci, to this Russian abstractionist, the square is found to be unique. A mathematical identity, of origin and beginning.

[Альберто Лорэдо · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with clear concepts in particular with regards to the first Vanguards. Nevertheless, it's quite uneven as every style is written by a different author and some of them are not the most clear explaining the subject. Illustrations are good but black and white which in cases like the Fauvism don't really help to understand them well.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thames & Hudson 'World Of Art' series is provides an excellent overview of art movements from across the centuries. I found this edition, compiled via various expert essays, useful for providing historical context for the major modern art movements of the 20th Century.

[Almudena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro breve y sencillo para hacerse una idea general sobre la historia del arte durante el siglo XX.

[Zaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice introduction to most Western art movement from 1900-1990. Each movement's section is written by different authors, and it makes the book somewhat uneven at times.

[AndyDobbieArt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard going at times, but a thorough overview of modern art movements upto the 80s

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the chapter on Expressionism; it was good. I particularly liked it because the author briefly mentioned the social and political context of the schools.

[Silva]

What the author did with this book is fantastic

[Stamen Parushev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of different movements. The essay on Abstract Expressionism is boring; while ones on Conceptual art and Minimalism are interesting.

[Annorah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duidelijk en heel makkelijk te lezen. Precies wat het zegt te zijn zeg maar.

[Chris]

Just have to acknowledge what a great series the "World of Art" is for novices (like scientists) who want to learn about art (like Abstract Art or Modern European Art: Impressionism to Abstract Art) but don't have clue one about it. Scholarly, but readable.

[Jaimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

i had to return this one to the library, and have yet to finish it, but it is an excellent book for outlining the history of art. i was taking notes from this book on different art movements to better articulate where my own work was coming from, only to get wrapped up in life in general. this book is none the less a valuable resource. A++

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

fucking amazing

[Rick Eng]

Using for my research in the art gallery tour event I'm involved in planning this Fall.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to reread this to grasp all of the information... but it was a good selection of essays, even if some of them went overboard with the jargon.

[Brian Bulfer]

good reference book

[sologdin · Rating 3 out of 5]

not a bad introduction to 20th century developments, but short on images.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchased as a text book, decided not to re-sell it afterward. Interesting read.

[Johnathon Yeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you are not interested in art at all, it is worth knowing what constitutes modern art because of the relevance it holds in our lives.

[Benjamin Wigley]

Very comprehensive - was part of my fine art degree recommended reading, although never read it then. It's great if you are looking up a specific movement

[evangelos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read some of the essays that interested me, not all of them. Will go back at some point.

[Jez · Rating 3 out of 5]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... and I love modern art!