Abstract Art: Second Edition: 1 (World of Art)

About the Author Anna Moszynska pioneered the study of contemporary art at Sotheby’s Institute during the late 1980s, and oversaw the development of the MA in Contemporary Art. In addition to writing books she has contributed to journals including Tate, Apollo, Arts Review, TLS and Art Monthly. Moszynska is an art critic for BBC Radio 3 and a member of the International Art Critics Association Product Description Since the early years of the 20th century, Western abstract art has fascinated, outraged and bewildered audiences. Its path to acceptance within the artistic mainstream was slow. Anna Moszynska traces the origins and evolution of abstract art, placing it in broad cultural context. She examines the pioneering work of Kandinsky, Malevich and Mondrian alongside the Russian Constructivists, the De Stijl group and the Bauhaus artists, contrasting European geometric abstraction in the 1930s and 40s with the emphasis on personal expression after the Second World War. Op, Kinetic and Minimal art of the postwar period is discussed and illustrated in detail, and new chapters bring the account up to date, exploring the crisis in abstraction of the 1980s and its revival – in paint, fabric, sculpture and installation – in recent decades. The first edition of this book, published in 1990, was acclaimed by reviewers; now in full colour and comprehensively revised, it will serve as the best introduction to abstract art for a new generation. Review Through these books, art becomes more accessible --David HockneyThe single most influential series of art books ever published --ApolloOutstanding exceptionally authoritative and well illustrated --Sunday TimesFor anyone seriously interested in the visual arts, it s hard to imagine life without Thames & Hudson s World of Art --The Times Educational SupplementHas single-handedly done for arts publishing what Penguin achieved for fiction and literature --The Daily TelegraphThe single most influential series of art books ever published --ApolloOutstanding exceptionally authoritative and well illustrated --Sunday TimesThrough these books, which almost anyone can afford, art becomes more accessible --David HockneyTerrific --R. B. KitajQuality art books a comprehensive range of quality art books Frank AuerbachFor anyone seriously interested in the visual arts, it s hard to imagine life without Thames & Hudson s World of Art --The Times Educational SupplementAn extraordinarily rich and varied series --Linda NochlinWonderful --Gilbert & GeorgeThe established authority --The Art NewspaperWell-written, informative and admirably illustrated guides --The Financial TimesOutstanding --Art QuarterlyA godsend of a series --Art ReviewSlim volumes at the heart of art --Daily TelegraphHas single-handedly done for arts publishing what Penguin achieved for fiction and literature --Daily TelegraphA wonderful series --Joe TilsonWonderful --Anthony CaroAuthoritative, succinct, full of insight, imaginative and thought-provoking --Marina VaizeyBrings text and images of high quality within the reach of millions --Sir Nicholas SerotaThis kind of book at this kind of price is what art publishing should be about --The New York Times Book ReviewThames & Hudson s World of Art is not only well established but world famous for its collection of low-priced but high quality discussions of specific topics in art --Contemporary Art Book Description A succinct but thorough introduction to abstract art since 1900, revised and updated. From the Back Cover Since the early years of the twentieth century, Western abstract art has fascinated, outraged, and bewildered audiences. Its path to acceptance within the artistic mainstream was slow. This revised edition traces the origins and evolution of abstract art, placing it in broad cultural context. Well-respected scholar Anna Moszynska examines the pioneering work of Hilma af Klint, Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, and Piet Mondrian alon