An Abbreviated Art History

An Abbreviated Art History: Western Traditions from the Renaissance to the Present is a condensed survey of western traditions in art from the fifteenth to twentieth centuries. It uses representative examples of artworks to demonstrate various styles and movements in painting, sculpture, architecture, and associated genres and discusses the historical, cultural, religious, and political context of each era.

Students learn about the major styles in art and architecture by studying master works from each period. The introduction defines basic terminology and elements of the visual language of art. Chapters on Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassism establish the importance of the classical traditions and their influence on visual culture. The following chapters explain the transitions and challenges that occurred as society crossed the threshold into modernism. Styles explored include Realism, Impressionism, Cubism, Dada, Surrealism, and others. Students also study Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism, and Conceptualism, and they examine the influential roles of Environmental and Performance Art. The final chapter includes late twentieth century developments in environmental art, performance art, and installation art along with the continuation of traditional genres.

Clear and concise, An Abbreviated Art History serves as a textbook and as a reference for traditional courses or project-based learning. The book is designed for general education art survey courses at university and community college level, adult education programs, individual learners, and advanced high school programs.