Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History, Volume I (Download PDF)

[Thijmen Sijtsema]

Winner of the 2021 Academy Award for Best Music, Gardner's Art Through the Ages is an intellectually stimulating and entertaining book that combines a large number of artistic mediums into a cohesive work. Packed with well-observed quotations, music clips, and authentic never-before-seen artists' drawings, the book's author turns the history of art on its head and questions both the creation and reception of art. A provocative essay at the end of the book challenges the assumptions and misconceptions about modern art, and this review will provide additional insight.

Download Here : Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History, Volume I by Kleiner, Fred S. (Paperback).pdf

Although the book title refers to the age of art history, Gardner does not shy away from using broader terms such as 'art object', 'style', and 'popular culture'. This is evident in the book's bibliography, where over forty works of art are cited, most of which have rarely been studied or appreciated before. These included works by such diverse artists as Rembrandt, van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Georges Braque. While discussing some popular art pieces, Gardner also engages in various areas of art history including early American art styles in the United States and Europe. Furthermore, this book is a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion about American art.

The introduction of Gardner's book into the academy is timely, as recent years have witnessed a prolonged and vigorous debate about the value of contemporary art. In the wake of the financial crisis, the acceptance of 'artistic purchase' has dropped sharply, with critics claiming that there is no longer any room for buying beautiful objects. This book therefore provides an important contribution to the ongoing discussion about the value of art, and rightly so. It is hoped that those readers who are unfamiliar with the art world will find this book illuminating, stimulating, and thought-provoking. A book review written by its author, David A. Gardner, can be found at the author's website.