The Bottom Line
A portable art gallery of 20th century artists arranged in easy-to-find A to Z order, rather than according to decade, school, or technique.
Pros
- 500 large-format paintings.
- Easy A-to-Z organization.
- Includes innovative contemporary artists.
Cons
- Only one painting to represent an artist's style.
- Limited information about each artist.
- Some featured artists may disappear into obscurity
Description
- Hardback. 512 pages. Also available as a small-format paperback
- Publisher: Phaidon Press Inc, October 1996
- ISBN 0714835420.
Guide Review - Book Review: The 20th Century Art Book
500 of the 20th century's greatest artists in one book. Instead of arranging the artists according to decade, country, school, or technique, they're in strict A to Z order from Acconci to Zorio. You judge each painting on its own, not in relation to its peers. Each artist has a page, most of which is taken up with one item characteristic of their work, whether this is painting, sculpture, new media, collage, ready-made object, installation, or video. At the back is a glossary of artistic movements and 20th-century art terms, plus a directory of museums and galleries. Also on each page is a concise description of the work and the artist's life. It's a modern-art collection everyone can have in their home.
