Arte: 100 obras maestras y su significado

by Susie Hodge, Llorenç Esteve de Udaeta (Primary Contributor), Antonio Díaz Pérez (Translator)

* Desvele los secretos de algunas de las obras de arte más famosas jamás creadas y descubra las fascinantes motivaciones y significados que hay detrás de estas 100 obras maestras del arte. * ¿Por qué pintó Miguel Ángel la Capilla Sixtina o Rembrandt se obsesionó con representar su propia imagen? ¿Cuál es el secreto del Ejército de Terracota o el de las instalaciones lumínicas de Yayoi Kusama? * Un libro que responde con claridad y de forma satisfactoria a 100 fascinantes preguntas. Si alguna vez ha contemplado una obra de arte con asombro, pero se ha preguntado qué significa, aquí encontrará la respuesta. El arte, entre muchas otras cosas, puede ser molesto, irritante, edificante, nostálgico, emocionante y divertido. Sobre todo, suele resultar fascinante, cautivador e incluso reconfortante. El mundo sería un lugar más triste si no existiera. Las razones que se esconden detrás de lo que vemos después de que un artista haya consumado una obra de arte y la haya mostrado al mundo a menudo resultan fascinantes y cautivadoras. Cada obra de arte se crea por una razón, y la interpretación de cada artista es individual. Incluso las historias tradicionales están representadas de muy distintas maneras por artistas de diferentes épocas y nacionalidades. Además de que las técnicas suelen adaptarse y personalizarse, se crean nuevos métodos e ideas. El por qué un artista crea una obra de arte de una manera determinada es siempre una fascinante combinación de su contexto, experiencia, situación, momento histórico, influencia y entorno.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

216 pages, Paperback

Published May 5, 2022

Reviews

[Kristīne Līcis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Convenient collection of brief references, although one might argue endlessly about the decision to include some artists and not, for example, Klimt, Weiwei, or Modigliani, or about the choice of the representative work, for example, for Chagall, whose Old Testament-inspired art are undisputed masterpieces. Conversely, one might agree that for da Vinci "The Virgin and Child with St Anne" is a much better choice than "Mona Lisa". One might also be very happy to see many female artists and their work, from Artemisia Gentileschi to Lee Krasner. But one might have liked to see Georgia O'Keefe too.

One might endlessly (albeit a bit compulsively) mark the artworks that one has seen, or artists whose other artwork one has seen, and how what one has known about the particular artist or the particular masterpiece compares to what the author felt necessary to include in the book. If one is a nerd, one will enjoy various facts, like how the Council of Trent (that ended in 1563) "set rules for religious art, decreeing that landscapes were unsuitable subjects for paintings ad they did not focus on Catholicism". Finally, one might end up with the book on one's nightstand so that one might daydream and compose travel itineraries to go and see artwork that one has not yet seen.

"Art can be annoying, aggravating, uplifting or nostalgic, exciting, amusing and much more. Most of all, it is frequently intriguing, enthralling and even comforting. The world would be a drearier place without it."

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course, the selection of the masterpieces does feel a bit arbitrary at times -- nevertheless, there are some expected (and unexpected) choices. Not every entry is equally insightful (some seem to simply describe the artwork rather than offer deeper meaning) but they all provide enough context, such as the background/bio of the artist, to be interesting. As relaxed summer reading, this was easy enough to pick up, read a few entries, and put back down. To be honest, I didn't really start getting into it until we were well into the 19th century -- modern art (and beyond) is much more interesting to me.

[Alexandros Potapidis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is exactly what the title suggests and if you are like me, a beginner to the philosophy of art, then it is the perfect introduction to some of the most iconic pieces of art created since the human kind started expressing itself. After all, the one fundamental difference between humans and animals is our ability to tell stories. Some of these stories are expressed through art and visual creations that signify the state of mind, emotions, desires, ideologies, and expectations of the artists who created them. In the short, but incisive, introduction Hodge correctly points to the fact that not all art is taken or understood as such. This is because of the subjective perception of the viewer. We come from different backgrounds, have unique experiences, tastes, and expectations which drive our perception when classifying or assessing something that is considered art. All things considered, not all stories are equally liked by everyone.

These 100 pieces of art chosen to be included in the book are predominantly paintings. This shows that visual representations on a two dimensional solid material was the easier, most convenient, economical, and practical way of artistic expression in the past several centuries. Some exceptions were three-dimensional sculptures or buildings, such as the Venus of Willendorf, the Terracotta Army, and Trajan's Column. It is only in the 20th and 21st centuries that other forms of art are emerging due to improvements in technology, such as photography (Untitled Film Stills), plexiglas (Fireflies on the Water), LED lights (I Want my Time with You), or the availability and access to materials that were henceforth financially prohibitive, such as the 80 tonnes of sugar used to create the figure in A Subtlety, and the transition to what art can mean, rather than what it is (East West Circle, Light Sentence, House). As the time passes the art creations are becoming more detailed, more colourful, at times even larger and exceedingly dominating.

At earlier times art was a useful indicator of the social, cultural, and ideological dominant arrangements. Later on they break these conventions introducing innovative themes, colours, and medium through which their artists express themselves. For example, in The Swing Jean-Honore Fragonard exposed the hypocrisy of the dominant classes when it came to monogamic conventions. In The Sleepers Gustave Courbet attacked the bourgeois morality by drawing two naked women who had sexual relations. Political statements through particular themes became popular as the world entered divisive waters and liberal ideas started flowing in the art. In Urban Debauchery Otto Dix highlighted the social degradation and corruption in the highly unequal and economically bankrupt Weimar Republic between the two World Wars. In Guernica Pablo Picasso made a strong stand against fascism condemning the devastation and violence on innocent citizens and promoting an anti-war agenda. Even the way the artists painted could lead to a restructuring of the existing norms. In La Grenouillere Claude Monet pioneered Impressionism and broke with tradition by painting in the open air.

Some art was the result of inner turbulence experienced by the artists and their creations were a way to reveal their emotional and mental state. Probably the most famous of such art is the painting The Scream by Edvard Munch that acts as a cathartic medium of therapy following the loss of his sister and later of his mother. Lee Krasner found a way to channel her grief and heartache in Cool White following the death of her husband Jackson Pollock. She also discovered that he had extra marital affairs and sustained a mistress. Frida Kahlo offers the most expressive display of heartbreak in The Two Fridas, exploring her suffering after the divorce with Diego Rivera. But love can also work in positive connotations. David Hockey's painting My Parents captures his love for his mum and dad, whereas Marc Chagall glorifies matrimonial love in The Birthday.

[Cemressa]

Her dönemden biraz biraz hiçbir dönemden tam değil şeklinde özetlenebilecek tarzda, birkaç isim ve eser öğrenmek isteyenin hoşuna gidebilecek bir kitap.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

How did I get this far in life without realizing that American Gothic is a painting of a father and daughter instead of a husband and wife? Just one of the many tidbits I picked up from reading this book. I feel like this book would make a nice supplemental text to an Art History 101 course. The first half was a little repetitive with all of the chiaroscuro and religious art, but things got more interesting as we progressed to more recent works of art. One complaint is that some of the pieces of art were so tiny that it was difficult to make out the details that were explained in the text. They publisher easily could have rotated the pieces of art oriented as landscape 90 degrees to allow a slightly larger image to fit on the page.

[7jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book about art also good for some morning reading. This book discusses 100 artpieces, the motivations and meanings behind each. Each has the artist’s name (or unknown), lifeyears, art title, material(s) used, and creation year(s). And each piece also gets a small second title of what the compiler thinks it delivers (such as ”personifies inner strength”). The age span in from c.24,000 BC to 2018, though of course there’s more from the younger end.

What is discussed – the where, why, when, and how; some opinions, artists’ views on art, reactions to the pieces etc. Where the artpiece is and what are its dimensions are listed at the end, so reader might have to now and then look there if curiosity rises. Some texts feels more complete than others, but there’s always enough of it to open each work to readers.

There were many pieces familiar to me, but also some ’new’ ones, and everything I loved in some ways even if some became favorites. And it’s great to pause in front of each artpiece and observe its details, and have a moment of thinking about them with more depth. Lovely. :)

[Cornelia Maier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susie Hodge versucht mit 'Kunst erklärt:' das Unmögliche – die Kunst zu erläutern. Das Buch ist wie der nette Kumpel, der versucht, dir die Welt der Kunst zu zeigen, aber dabei ab und zu ins Stolpern gerät.

Für einen soliden Einstieg in die Kunstszene ist das Buch okay, lässt aber Neulinge mit Fragezeichen zurück. Die Annahme, dass wir bestimmte Kunststile und Materialien kennen, hat mir ein paar 'Wait, what?'-Moment beschert.

Drei Sterne, weil es zwar Künstler*inne wie Picasso und Frida Kahlo beleuchtet, aber einige Schwergewichte der Kunstszene, wie Henri Matisse oder Georgia O’Keeffe, scheinbar im künstlerischen Schatten stehen lässt. Vermissen wir hier etwa die Avantgarde-Champions?

Der Schreibstil ist solide, aber ein bisschen mehr Lockerheit würde nicht schaden. Fazit: 'Kunst erklärt:', ein guter Versuch, aber vielleicht nicht das Lehrbuch, das ich erwartet habe. Der Weg zur Kunst ist eben manchmal holprig – und dieses Buch ist da keine Ausnahme.

[• L O R E • · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo siento pero, ¿cómo vas a considerar arte, un letrero de luces led de color rosa en una estación de tren? ¿O un montón de piedras en círculo? Le doy 4 ⭐️ por eso, las últimas obras “de arte” yo no las considero arte como tal. Por lo demás, el resto de obras me han gustado mucho, no te cansas de leer y de algunas descubres secretos y significados que no escuchas de normal en documéntales o exposiciones.

[Mack Rhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this book leaves out some important artists or artworks but that is to be expected, it being only 100 works. Im an art history major and it is a pretty good reference to start out with. Some entries are less detailed than others, I suppose less or more is known about different works.

[Tugbadursun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitap 100 adet önemli sanat eserini kısaca anlatıyor. Eğer eseri zaten biliyorsanız kitaptaki bilgiler yetersiz kalıyor. Fakat eser sizin için yeniyse bilgiler faydalı geliyor. Dolayısıyla, kitap amatörler için uygun diyebilirim.

[Yonis Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. I appreciate how difficult it must've been to pick 100 pieces of art from history in chronological order. There were pieces that I loved and some that I didn't understand and therefore disliked. But all in all it was a positive experience.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!
Had no idea there were female artists in the 1660's!
Very informative.

[caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like it was interesting and it’s exactly what I wanted to read but I wish there were a few more modern pieces

[Beki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have preferred more modern works of art in. Especially interested in piano I saw at tate years ago!

[Tee]

Book is too small: Font size way too small, and artwork reproductions too small to see detail. I quit reading to preserve my eyesight.

[Juliana Beltrán]

Ví este libro por primera vez en el Museo El Prado en Madrid y me enamoré. No sería hasta unos meses después que por medio de un regalo llegaría a mis manos.

Hablando ya del libro, este probablemente sea un manual básico en español para los amantes del arte.

Susie Hodge atraviesa la historia de la humanidad por medio de sus reproducciones artísticas, desde la sala de los toros del Paleolítico hasta la icónica instalación de Tracey Emin en una de las estaciones ferroviarias londinenses mas importantes en 2018, la autora, analiza las que considera las 100 obras más icónicas con indulgencia de aquellos lectores que no fuimos educados en bellas artes, pero disfrutamos de entender qué hay detrás de una obra.