Look At This If You Love Great Art: A critical curation of 100 essential artworks • Packed with links to further reading, listening and viewing to take your enjoyment to the next level

by Chloë Ashby

Look At This If You Love Great Art is a must read for anyone with a passion for exceptional art. Featuring 100 of the best artworks ever produced, inside is a collection of insightful summaries on just what it is that makes each one so vital.

Art writer Chloë Ashby talks you through the pieces that resonate with her, revealing the fascinating stories behind them and offering her considered take on why each work should be regarded as a pinnacle of artistic endeavour. With entries curated to offer a unique juxtaposition of styles, mediums and schools of art, expect a contemporary take on classic artworks, where titans of art history cross paths with under-appreciated examples from outside the traditional canon, and where rebellious visionaries blaze trails that still influence today’s cutting-edge artists.

Covering all the most important genres of art –Abstraction, Pop Art, Surrealism, Renaissance art, Impressionism and more – this engaging summary only deals with artworks that really matter and the reasons why you have to see them.
 

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art Design

224 pages, Hardcover

Published April 6, 2021

About the author

Chloë Ashby is an author and arts critic who has written for publications such as the Times, TLS, Guardian, FT Life & Arts, Spectator and frieze.

Her first novel, Wet Paint, was published in April 2022, and her second novel, Second Self, followed in July 2023.

She is also the author of Look At This If You Love Great Art (2021) and Colours of Art: The Story of Art in 80 Palettes (2022).

Reviews

[♑︎♑︎♑︎ ♑︎♑︎♑︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. From the beginning, its erudition and warmth and enthusiasm reminded me of another one of my favorite authors of historical, artistic, and literary history, Simon Schama. Then I saw on the page I was reading, at the time, that Ashby happened to be recommending one of Schama's books to me as a way to increase my understanding of her theme. It's a book I'd not known about before: Rembrandt's Eyes--and I immediately requested from my library.

Such lovely synergies kept happening as I read on. This book is such a treasure trove of thoughtful art criticism, history, and suggestions for further study. Each page of Ashby's book provided new leaping-off points. I especially loved the literary tie-ins that Ashby suggests about the art she's critiquing. Some of her suggestions are directly relevant, like Schama's book about Rembrandt, on the page about Rembrandt's early self-portrait; others are marvelous leaps of thought, like when Ashby suggests I read Reni Eddo-Lodges's "Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race" as a way to meditate more deeply on Manet's "Portrait of a Black Woman," or suggesting I read Elizabeth Strout's novel "Olive Kitteridge" after pondering the quiet strength of Vilhelm Hammershoi's painting "Rest".

Some of the art work here was familiar, but Ashby opened my eyes to see it in new ways--to ponder, for instance, the audacity of Courbet's "Desperate Man" self-portrait painted when he was only twenty-four. Other works were completely new to me. I enjoyed the ahistorical choices Ashby made, where works were arranged through loose themes rather than chronologically. It's a book that looks for human connections across the ages rather than emphasizing historical differences.

One of the delightful if vicarious pleasures, since I read this book in covid times, is imagining a time when I might be able to see some of these works for myself--and Ashby lets me know along the way where each of the works she critiques exists in the real world. It's the right book at the right time for me. It's one of the most pleasurable times I've ever spent with a book.

I'm reviewing this book as an e-ARC thanks to the publisher but it's a keeper for me--I plan to buy it as soon as I can. In the meantime I hope the publisher tweaks the book description because it makes this book out to be some kind of snobbish "here is the top 100 of all time and why I'm right" kinds of art books, when it's clearly, once you have it in your hands, an idiosyncratic invitation to enter into a conversation with one person who has thought a lot about art and has her own idiosyncratic opinions about the subject.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this art book and may buy a copy for our homeschool. It's divided into sections that each have a theme, like exploring religion or boundaries or a different relationship with the subject. Each one tells you the artist's country, birth-death, who else to look at for similar works and more, plus goes into several paragraphs about the artist and the piece. I appreciate that the author is female and includes a ton of female artists and one famous non-binary artist I had never heard of, and she gives a decidedly progressive take on the history of the artists and their work. It's easy to read, frequently fascinating, and filled with honestly great art. It does have more European art than art from elsewhere, but there's still great diversity. You'll find many of the "greats" here but also some new artists to look up. I really enjoyed it.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

[liz ⁀➷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad this was written by a woman it made it so much more inclusive and insightful. Very well written, concise and fun

[Mark Lushman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Mother gave me this book for Christmas this year. She told me she spent hours at the store trying to find a book that I would really love. I think she did a lovely job, and I really enjoyed this book. Due to its formatting, it’s not really a book one would read large portions of at a time, but instead it’s something to be consumed slowly. Due to this, I’ve been reading about 1 or 2 artworks a day since Christmas, slowly making my way through the book until today when I finally read about the last featured piece.

I really enjoyed how this book was laid out. 10 different themed sections, each featuring 10 artworks, along with a small but detailed write up giving some context about the piece, as well as some description of why the author thinks it’s important. Along with this each artwork features information about when the piece was created, when the artist was born and where, when they lived and died, etc. also included were recommendations of other artists who work in a similar style, or belong to a similar movement. The author also proceeds to recommend supplementary material (novels, films, where to see each work in person) that are either directly about the artist, or are similar thematically. My brain loves to divide things into groups and categories. It allows me to remember things better. I think my mom knows this and so she selected a book on a subject I love (fine art), organized in a way I would appreciate, and that drives curiosity and further exploration of the subject.

What I really loved about this book was the diversity of featured artwork. I think it was perhaps a bit silly or hyperbolic to suggest that only 100 artworks would be essential or whatever. But what I did like was that I believe the goal of the author was to expand one’s visual art vocabulary to feature more than just the standard “essential artists”. This book featured artwork by people of different genders, people of various races, from all over the world in many different mediums. It featured works from a large number of different art movements as well, and provided detailed enough context that I never felt lost or unable to appreciate a work.

I found the book really useful for learning about under appreciated artists, as well as discovering more art from previously established artists. It helped me to figure out what styles of art and which artists appeal to me the most. In a sense it was assisting in curating my taste in visual art, while also pushing me to appreciate other styles I may have found less appealing otherwise. The book encourages one to follow up on the pieces they find interesting which I certainly did, helping me to find even more great art. The book helped me to develop my understanding of art and have a greater appreciation for it. It’s a lovely little coffee table book and I’m glad my mom picked it out for me :) it’s nothing mind blowing but if you want to learn more about fine art it’s a cute entry point. I found by only reading about one or two pieces a day I would retain information about it more easily, as I wasn’t overwhelmed with detail. I found myself showing my mom or sister different pieces from the book and asking their opinion of them, while parroting facts and trivia from the excerpts. I think by doing this I’ve retained a lot of the information.

I own many of these types of books that describe various artworks and I love them all, but some of them are quite massive and comprehensive (an entire history of art from it’s beginnings to modern day, or another that seeks to also describe many “essential” artworks but is hundreds more pages long, along with many art encyclopedias on different famous artists over the years) I thought this was a nice addition to the collection because of its brevity, and it’s less intimidating and more concise welcoming approach. Art (not just visual art, but art in all its forms.) is what makes life interesting for me. It is a subject that fascinates me endlessly, and what is probably what connects me most with someone. Art adds flavour to one’s life and enhances our imagination, creativity and emotions.

Would recommend to anyone looking to get introduced to visual art history, but wants something that’s a smaller commitment, very beginner friendly and can be done at one’s own pace

:) good stuff! Thanks mom

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The title of this book says it all.

Reading this book made my heart soar. I got no further than page 25 in my digital review copy, (the page depicts a strangely unsettling Mark Rothko), before I found myself moving to Amazon to purchase my own hardback copy (on pre-order as it will be published Apr 6, 2021).

This book is absolutely sublime and I need to view it, repeatedly. ❤️

Structured unlike any art book I have ever seen before, in a way that instantly resonated deeply with me, the author takes us through a soul-stirring examination of 100 pieces of art - not all of them classically beautiful but each of them destined to touch you in some way - arranged by unique and interesting thematic chapters including: emotional rollercoasters, nakedness, pushing the boundaries, mythical creatures, dreams, and the ordinary made extraordinary. (There are more but I have to leave some for you to discover!)

Not only does each page contain a beautifully rendered photograph of each piece of art discussed, but the author has done a phenomenal job of curating the pieces displayed into the themes, as well annotating each with additional material, including: where to find the piece, more information on each artwork, and (my favorite) other literary or artworks similar conceptually.

I have never enjoyed an art book more, lingering over each page and almost reluctant to turn to the next one, so wanting the experience to continue. I found myself learning about artists I knew nothing, (or very little) about, appreciating their work in a way I have not, and most of all, just living through the art, in the moment, - really luxuriating in each piece - and letting the authors guidance inform it.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advance review copy of this beautiful book. All thoughts presented are my own.

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elephant-in-the-room thing first: list books are always going to include things that the reader doesn't agree with, there will always be the question of why did the author include that/not include this? Lists are subjective, just put on your big kid pants and don't take it as a personal affront, okay?
Having said that, I didn't feel like Ashby was presenting these works as anything but her personal choices, she set that up pretty well in her introduction. Also, I never found her tone patronizing, or falling into that annoying "you must feel as I feel, for I am the expert" thing- I found Ashby's tone very inviting and inclusive. I liked the way this book is set up- ten chapters of ten works of art, each chapter being tied together by a theme rather than an art movement or time period, which was a fun way to experience the works. Each piece came with a side bar with suggestions of complimentary books, movies, books/short stories/essays, music, or other artworks to compare and contrast, as well as suggested artists to look up if the artist in question tickled your fancy. I appreciated Ashby's efforts to include artists that weren't white dudes- they're in there, of course, but they aren't the only aren't the only artists featured. I learned some really interesting tidbits about art, looked at familiar works with a new eye, and met some new-to-me artists, and isn't that the goal of a book like this? There were pieces I didn't care for, and that's fine with me- art is for everyone, not just people with my tastes. It was still interesting seeing these works, and learning why they're considered important. Overall, I greatly enjoyed reading this, and would recommend it to anyone wanting to take an imaginary art tour.

#LookAtThisIfYouLoveGreatArt #NetGalley

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Look At This If You Love Great Art is an engaging and accessible examination of 100 works of art presented by Chloë Ashby. Due out 6th April 2021 from Quarto on their Ivy Press imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is such a well written and erudite book of art criticism. Despite never having had much formal art education (music was my groove), I had no trouble understanding and following the salient points made by the author. Many of the works are so well known they've become a part of the collective consciousness. The commentary invites the reader to take a new look at them as the artists likely intended (as artworks and not as a vehicle to sell tea or cars to consumers). Additionally many of these works were previously unfamiliar to me and I enjoyed being exposed to new artists and works to follow.

The entries for each work contain the artist's name, the title of the work, the date (of completion?), and a description and commentary. Additionally, each of the entries contains further resources for a deeper look at allied artists' works, the physical collection in which the artwork resides, and books/films/podcasts which will provide further enhancing information with which to experience the artwork. The entries also include a color photo of each work which is high enough definition to get a good idea about the piece and examine general details.

The book's chapters are arranged thematically: works with strong emotional responses, nudes, revolutionary works, religion & myth, dreams & fantasy, ordinary objects, nature, political and social commentary, relational works, and land-/city-scapes.

This would make a superlative selection for library acquisition, maker's spaces, artist's studios, classroom, and home use.

Five stars. Not at all dry or inaccessible.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Dasha Slepenkina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.

4/5 - Really liked it.

I don't consider myself an art expert, but I do love great art. I've been lucky to live all over the world and have seen my fair share of masterpieces - in breathless moments of adoration at the Tretyakovskaya Gallery or the Louvre, or simpler but more intimate encounters in cobblestoned art shops tucked into a more quiet part of the world.

Reading this book felt like encountering both. Ashby takes the reader on a carefully curated tour of some of the world's greatest art. She covers everything from the magnificent and splendid to the overlooked, with careful attention to female and non-Western artists, as well as less-known paintings by the commonly acknowledged "greats." Each painting is accompanied with a synopsis which highlights its history, cultural relevance, or details a viewer might miss. I especially enjoyed being exposed to art I might normally have overlooked. There are also recommendations for other artists, as well as similar music or reading material. To be honest, these recommendations were a little hit-or-miss for me (for example, when Life of Pi was recommended for lovers of Michelangelo's David - that felt like a stretch). But others are delightful - listening to the "Boogie Woogie Prayer" while looking at Piet Mondrian's "Broadway Boogie Woogie" made me appreciate the painting like never before.

Overall, I think this is a great book both for experts of art and casual fans. This is a book I can see myself coming back to frequently.

[Mallika Saharia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so many new ways to look at art.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I took to this a lot more than I did its sister volume, concerning a hundred albums you should try and like (I tried, I didn't). Here our journalist and novelist guide takes us through a hundred artworks, forming a new option of a canon, meaning there are not always the usual and expected masterpieces (the van Gogh is especially an unexpected choice), but definitely a wide range that does manage to include some out-and-out classics. So for every birth of Venus we get a Hockney, ugly modernist ideas of nudes or pastry cooks sit alongside our waitress friend whose reflection is on the wonk, and so on. I certainly appreciated being brought to Girodet's "Endymion", one of the finest works I've so belatedly come to know.

For all the erudite discussion of the works, what they mean and wherefrom they came, though, we get the usual bordering-on-useless box-outs and infobanks to go with the style of the series. So we're often told where the pieces can be see in real life, as well as what and who else we should feel in the mood to explore further. These links away, when they leave painted and sculpted art behind, to bring in anything from novels to Arcade Fire tracks, seem rather too spurious to trouble with ("like Gaugain? Then read Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'!!"). What would have been much more useful is an indication of size – I think a Hepworth is lessened without knowing the dimension, and she's not alone. The Picasso here demands us knowing the medium, but it's not even mentioned.

Design-wise, the art works are presented well – only the curse of the centrefold struggling to get them across, and my digital copy avoiding that problem, of course. Script-wise, the plaint about the lack of women's prominence in art history comes across as a bit too 'woke' and of the moment, and could have been served with one grandstanding mention and not the many it gets. You don't get anything like a history of art here – there is no way you would piece together this person with that movement and that precedent. But the melange of different creations does provide for some kind of canon, and as far as a tasting menu can go to showing off a master chef, so this book can most suitably show off some of the most beautiful, distinctive, notorious or just pointless artworks that curators and art viewers alike can possibly hold dear. But... no Dali??

[Sayani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look at This If You Love Great Art: 100 Essential Artworks That Really Matter by Chloë Ashby
Format: Hardback, 224 Pages
ISBN: 9780711256064
Publisher: Ivy Press
Series: If You Love

Art is always a great consolation. In love, in malaise, in tragedy, in comedy.

This book contains 100 pieces of paintings, sculptures, and art installations with a short description, analysis, some interesting information about the artist, and an important endnote coaxing the onlooker to look more closely. Taking time to pause and channel the artist's inner workings along with your own feelings about the art. If you are just a beginner in art history and want to know more about myriad art movements this book is a nice start.
What set this collection by Chlöe Ashby for me was the accompanying tips about what to read next, where to visit more of that particular artist's art, what movie to watch or song to listen to, and what other artists should you try if you find a particular piece interesting. For someone like me who experiences moments of synesthesia from time to time (this is not a self-diagnosis but I do have moments of strong associations from two senses), this particular panel of curious suggestions pulled the book to a higher stratum in books about art.
The author juxtaposes Egon Schiele's The Scornful Woman with Medea by Euripides and the movie Gone Girl. Those are nifty little suggestions for the "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" theme. Similarly, Schubert's music follows Mark Rothko and David Hockney's groundbreaking work is in conjunction with Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous.
This concatenation of ancient paintings with other cultural media from modern times and vice versa goes to show the timeless nature of evocation that art inspires in human nature. You can appreciate Greek pottery along with a contemporary movie and feel a richer satisfaction than appreciating them in different mental spaces. That is what I have taken as a lesson from this lovely book which was provided by Netgalley as an ARC for review.

[Ann Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter if you’re obsessed with art museums or you don’t know a Manet from Monet or if you think your 4 year old nephew could do the same thing, you 👏🏼 will 👏🏼 like 👏🏼 this 👏🏼 book. 👏🏼

This book chooses one piece from 100 of the most iconic artists and shows you exactly why these works are so amazing. Each page features gorgeous pictures of the art work and a quick rundown of notable things about the artist and the piece. To go beyond that, there are also sidebars on each page to give you movie, book, artist, music, and museum recommendations based on each work. So extra!!

The absolute best thing about this book is the amount of FEMALE artists! When you’re used to reading the same old, same old in art history books about male European masters, this book is a complete breath of fresh air. I learned about some women that I’d never even heard of before that I’m for sure looking more into. A third of this book is made up of females, which is still too small a percentage, but when it’s usually closer to 5%, you notice the jump!

This book is super accessible for any art lover level and doesn’t come across as snooty. You’ve got your big name artists as well as lesser known folks too, from the Renaissance to current artists.

Bottom line: If this is sitting on your coffee table, you’re going to look all bougie and cultured. Plus if you read up on this before your next museum trip, you will for sure impress your partner. And isn’t that our main goal in life?

[Brianna Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it was marvelous the breadth and diversity of art Ashby put into the book. And, on a personal note, I enjoyed seeing a lot of the paintings we've studied through AO make an appearance. The reproductions in the book were decent, and I think it's a fine reference book for most paintings, although for some artists who play with light, you just can't get the full beauty of them. I think the additional bits she put in, the "read this if you like this painting" or "watch this movie if the subject interests you" was a lovely idea, but most seemed disconnected from the art. Her interpretations seemed mostly fair even if I didn't agree with all of them. This is not a child-friendly book as it has mature and sexual content, but I think as an adult reader it was a great guide book that showed me art that I loved and felt inspired to revisit and some I 100% would've never visited on my own and I will never care to visit again.

I did struggle with my rating. Usually a 4/5 would mean I would recommend and re-read it, but not in this case. I would recommend it, but I won't be re-reading it. If Goodreads had a .5 system it would get a 3.5/5. It's a great library find so check it out if your library has it!

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title of this book sounds like it should be on a bumper sticker. And the subtitle -- 100 essential artworks that really matter -- is nothing short of delusional. Art is highly subjective and personal. One viewer may fall in love with a painting, for example, while another thinks it's a waste of paint. Anyone believing that they can anoint 100 works of art as either great or essential is way too enamoured with the sound of their own voice. Not even Kenneth Clark attempted that. Ashby also is guilty of over simplification. Mark Rothko did not "prefer" that massive paintings he created for the Four Seasons restaurant go to the Tate Modern; after eating dinner there, he decided he couldn't stomach his paintings hanging in a place that charged that much for a hamburger! All that being said, Ashby does a good job of highlighting works from diverse artists. The artists in this book aren't the usual lineup of dead, white, European guys. With a little less ego and little more research, this could have been a good book.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the chapter titles in this book. Here are just a few: You Can’t Leave Your Hat On; Troubled Dreams; To the Barricades and Natural Wonders. There is wit here too, as, for example, the section with leaving one’s hat on is actually about nudes. There are ten chapters in all and 100 artworks discussed.

The author’s goal was to include both well and lesser known artists. She also wanted to cover a wide time period. Both the selections and commentary held my interest.

A feature of this book that I very much liked was about links. These include the topics “see this, visit this, read this, watch this, listen to this and like this? try these.” These greatly add to what readers can get from the book itself.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to know a bit more about history. It is very well done.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look At This If You Love Great Art by Chloe Ashby is a wonderful book for both the experienced and the more casual art lover. The works included span history and styles while the brief discussions are less about jargon-filled criticism and more about conveying how one might view the work to gain more insight.

When considering art, including literature, music, etc, I tend to think about "ways into the work." That is what I find particularly appealing about this book, it offers details, asks questions, and gives some critique for each work. For me, this approach showed me various ways into each piece.

While I would recommend this to anyone with even a remote interest in art appreciation, I would especially recommend this to those who sometimes feel intimidated when looking at or discussing art. I plan to give this book, as well as the volume on photography, as gifts to several high school age relatives I have.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Las Lecturas de Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoy os traigo un libro muy diferente, sobre todo, para los amantes del arte.

Una recopilación de cien obras de arte que la autora nos muestra, junto con enlaces y sugerencias para leer, escuchar y ver.
Ella dice que «la vida es demasiado corta para el arte malo» y solo le puedo dar la razón.

La gran mayoría de las propuestas son pictóricas e incluye algunas esculturas.

Una relación de artistas de diferentes escuelas y épocas. Algun@s de ell@s no los conocía y otros de reputado nombre me ha descubierto algunos de sus trabajos que desconocía.

Un libro para desgutar y disfrutar despacio, con calma y que anima a seguir indagando, además de querer verlos en los museos donde se encuentran. Puede ser un buen plan organizar algún viaje en base a ellos.

Muchas gracias a la editorial por el envío y a #MasaCríticaEspaña @babelioespanol por la organización ❤️.

Os recomiendo su lectura.

[Colette Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never studied art but I have always enjoyed looking at great images. I loved this book as it not only gives a description of the imagery contained in every painting but also because the eBook gives links to further information. Each page has an 'If you like this then:- See This, Visit This, Read This, Watch This, Listen to This, Like This Then Try." Each link allows you to deepen your knowledge and experience more from the Artist.

I was struck by the quote from Camille Claudel "I am as mysterious to myself as I am to others" as this was the way I thought about Art. This book helps to take away some of the mystery and allows the reader to grow.

Thank you, NetGalley for a free review copy in return for an honest review.

[Melanie Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains art from an amazing range of artists, time periods and styles, from the traditional white male canon such as van Gogh, Monet, Lowry and Degas to lesser-known female and BAME artists such as Carington, , Kauffman, Kasuma and Himid. I came across old favourites and new artists to explore. I loved the side panels with suggestions of places to visit, books and music that link to the artist and painting and similar artists. The book is organised into interesting categories. The commentary on the art is insightful without becoming pretentious. I read a free digital advance copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review, but this is a book that I will be purchasing to go back to again and again.

[Priyanka Roy Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being an art lover but not an artist, I've read quite a few comprehensive books on art and it's a fact that most of them tend to be a little over-descriptive and drab. Their argument of being a proper document for art lovers/artists stands true but more books like this one by Chloe Ashby are very welcome. This is one of the 'cooler' books on art - described in a thoughtfully casual narration for all kinds of readers.
I loved the collection of artworks in this book - not all usuals, quite a few surprises and funny ones. It doesn't matter that it is the author's choice and doesn't go by the so-called norms of 'masterpieces'.
I had a digital copy from Netgalley, so couldn't appreciate the photos like in the hardcover, but I'd like to buy a copy someday soon.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my new favourite book - very informative and essential for anyone who loves art and even those who don’t. A brilliant introduction to an eclectic mix of artworks, some famous, some less so. It would make a fabulous gift for anyone who appreciates art or even the perfect coffee table book. I particularly like the suggested reading links, lists of other artists and places to visit associated with each artist featured in the different chapters. Highly recommend and will be ordering a hard copy for my collection of art books.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the few art books I have ever read that could work well for people who know nothing about art and a lot about art.
I have visited many art museums (before Covid), and have been lucky to have seen some of the works in the book (or other works by the same artist).
The text is straight forward, filled with info. Like the store function, when you buy something "you might like...", Chloe does with artists, which I think is really great to get to know similar artists. Easy beautiful read. I recommend it :).

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an art education in many ways.

I love looking at art, but generally gravitate to art and artists that I like. But this book had many pieces of art and artists that were previously unknown to me. And many pieces of art that are not really my preference.

And it was interesting to look at this art and see the author's interpretation of all these masterpieces.

The last chapter was my favorite because of the artists I love who were included in it--Turner, Hokusai, Mondrian, Hopper, Monet, and Cezanne.

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One hundred pictures by well-known artists are shown with brief information about the artists, their style of painting, and a short history of the painting. You can stop to read in detail the information about the paintings you like and gloss over those that don't appeal to you. Then at your next visit to the art museum you can find yourself checking the direction of the brush strokes or looking for all the colors in the sky. You might even remember some details about when the artist lived or his/her style of painting.

[Lisa Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun one to just pick up when I had a short bit of time here and there. While I didn't care for a lot of the art choices personally, I really liked that she had a wide selection that was subdivided into 10 categories, and that on each one she had some notes of where to see it, notes about the author, and usually a book or movie that somehow related to the piece. She also went fairly in depth (in a very concise manner) about each piece so that I ended up examining it more than I normally would have. All in all, a very interesting book that was laid out in a great format!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot even though it was different than I expected. This is a brilliant series of very brief info on many paintings grouped together with a little whimsy. It is a jumping-off point for art and these pieces, and doesn't have any depth. It will be great for those new to art or just curious, and not for anyone with much knowledge of art. Recommended.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

[Lize Hartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written and passionate, but still manage to makes art accessible and welcoming. You’ll be enriched with more than the 100 artworks shown as Ashby references other artists and other works throughout. I love that she also references music, film, and literature alongside each work and found myself looking up everything she mentioned while reading this. I cannot recommend this highly enough! This is the perfect book whether you’re an expert or simply love looking at art.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like a variety of art including modern, then this is a great coffee table book to pick up and review in short bursts. Or read it from cover to cover and mark the pages to go back to . Good references for further research and bio on artist. Informative and varied. Thank you #Netgalley for the advance copy

[Joni Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art is subjective. These examples of different art work should make you feel something. My favorite part of the book is the author gives you names of other artists, you may not know about, if you like a certain work of art. I enjoyed looking at the pictures and finding out more about each work of art and the artist.

[bohemianrhapsodyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love art then this book is definitely for you. This book features 100 of the most famous and best works of art. This book will definitely make you more informed about the famous works of art and the artists. This book would make a great gift!

I just reviewed Look At This If You Love Great Art by Chloë Ashby. #LookAtThisIfYouLoveGreatArt #NetGalley