While there are many courses and tutorials online, learning from a book is still one of the best ways to greatly improve your skills. Below I have selected top Modern Art books.
- 1. History of Modern Art (Paperback) (7th Edition) (2012)
- 2. …isms: Understanding Modern Art (2013)
- 3. Theories of Modern Art: A Source Book by Artists and Critics (California Studies in the History of Art) (1984)
- 4. The Art of Rivalry: Four Friendships, Betrayals, and Breakthroughs in Modern Art (2017)
- 5. History of Modern Art, 6th Edition (2009)
- 6. Why Your Five-Year-Old Could Not Have Done That: From Slashed Canvas to Unmade Bed, Modern Art Explained (2012)
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1. History of Modern Art (Paperback) (7th Edition) (2012)
History of Modern Art is a visual comprehensive overview of the modern art field. It traces the trends and influences in painting, sculpture, photography and architecture from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. The seventh edition deepens its discussions on social conditions that have affected the production and reception of modern and contemporary art. Upon completing this book, readers should be able to: …
2. …isms: Understanding Modern Art (2013)
An engaging and informative guide to all the significant “isms”—schools and movements—that have shaped modern and contemporary art from Impressionism to the present. Following on the heels of the bestselling Isms: Understanding Modern Art comes this handy small-format guide to the history and development of modern art since the Impressionist era. Loaded with reproductions of key artworks and rounded out with a glossary and index of names, this guide is the best single-volume concise introduction to modern art for beginners, as well as an engaging new way…
3. Theories of Modern Art: A Source Book by Artists and Critics (California Studies in the History of Art) (1984)
Herschel B. Chipp's Theories of Modern Art: A Source Book By Artists and Critics is a collection of texts from letters, manifestos, notes and interviews. Sources include, as the title says, artists and critics—some expected, like van Gogh, Gauguin, Apollinaire, Mondrian, Greenberg, just to name a few—and some less so: Trotsky and Hitler, in the section on Art and Politics. The book is a wonderful resource and insight into the way artists think and work….
4. The Art of Rivalry: Four Friendships, Betrayals, and Breakthroughs in Modern Art (2017)
Rivalry is at the heart of some of the most famous and fruitful relationships in history. The Art of Rivalry follows eight celebrated artists, each linked to a counterpart by friendship, admiration, envy, and ambition. All eight are household names today. But to achieve what they did, each needed the influence of a contemporary—one who was equally ambitious but possessed sharply contrasting strengths and weaknesses. Edouard Manet and Edgar Degas were close associates whose personal bond frayed after Degas painted a portrait of Manet and his wife. Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso swapped paintings, ideas, and influences as…
5. History of Modern Art, 6th Edition (2009)
Long considered the survey of modern art, this engrossing and liberally illustrated text traces the development of trends and influences in painting, sculpture, photography and architecture from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. Retaining its comprehensive nature and chronological approach, it now comes thoroughly reworked by Elizabeth Mansfield, an experienced art historian and writer, with refreshing new analyses, a considerably expanded picture program, and a more absorbing and unified narrative….
6. Why Your Five-Year-Old Could Not Have Done That: From Slashed Canvas to Unmade Bed, Modern Art Explained (2012)
Come on, you know you’ve thought it―while viewing a “masterpiece” of abstract art, you mutter, “A kid could do that.” Here Susie Hodge, author of How to Survive Modern Art, explains why the best examples of modern art are actually the result of sophisticated thought and serious talent. From Marcel Duchamp’s notorious Fountain and the scribbles of Cy Twombly to Mark Rothko’s multiforms and Carl Andre’s uncarved blocks, Hodge addresses critical outrage with a revealing insight into the technical skill, layering of ideas, and sheer inspiration behind each work. In cleverly…
Best Modern Art Books: The Ultimate List
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Genesis and download some modern art books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
Artificial Intelligence: Modern Magic or Dangerous Future?
Author(s): Yorick Wilks
ID: 2389077, Publisher: Icon Books, Year: 6 Jun 2019, Size: 576 Kb, Format: epub
The Spartan Way: What Modern Men Can Learn from Ancient Warriors
Author(s): The Art of Manliness
ID: 2393325, Publisher: Semper Virilis Publishing, Year: 4 Jun 2019, Size: 205 Kb, Format: epub
The Wicca Garden: A Modern Witch’s Book of Magickal and Enchanted Herbs and Plants
Author(s): Gerina Dunwich
ID: 2294169, Publisher: Citadel, Year: 27 Nov 2018, Size: 2 Mb, Format: epub
Please note that this booklist is not errorless. Some books are truly hot items according to The Wall Street Journal, others are composed by unknown authors. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant resources you could recommend? Leave a comment if you have any feedback on the list.