Customer Ratings:

• Useful if a little stiff at times. Agree with the other reviewer. This is a really useful overview of the main themes and shifts of emphasis in modern art in the late 19th and 20th centuries, encouraging the reader to appreciate that what it looks like is only half the story - just as important is what does it mean. It moves at a hell of a pace which makes it surprising that there is a lot of rather stiff, almost university thesis-ish as we have discussed in chapter 7 and Picasso, who we have already seen in Chapter 1... type formulations which are unnecessary and jar a bit - good sub-editing would have made this a smoother read. Nonetheless it s a very good starter to this huge and important subject without being judgemental.
• An excellent introduction to modern art. I found this book to be an excellent introduction to modern art. Acton discusses social and historical influences (if only briefly) in order to place the works in context. My only gripes are two: 1. Her discussions about the use of colour are often accompanied by illustrations in black and white - really frustrating! 2. Her text is somewhat repetitive. Good editing could have removed some of this. Nevertheless a useful book to have in my art section.

• Learning to Look at Paintings
• A Short Guide to Writing About Art (Short Guides)
• Ways of Seeing: Based on the BBC Television Series
• Isms: Understanding Art
• The Story of Art