Central and Eastern European Art Since 1950: World of Art

Product Description In this path-breaking new history, Maja and Reuben Fowkes introduce outstanding artworks and major figures from across central and eastern Europe to reveal the movements, theories and styles that have shaped artistic practice since 1950. They emphasize the particularly rich and varied art scenes of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia, extending their gaze at intervals to East Germany, Romania, the Baltic states and the rest of the Balkans. While politics in the region have been marked by unstable geography and dramatic transitions, artists have forged a path of persistent experiment and innovation. This generously illustrated overview explores the richness of their singular contribution to recent art history. Tracing art-historical changes from the short-lived unison of the socialist realist period to the incredible diversity of art in the post-communist era, the authors examine the repercussions of political events on artistic life – notably the uprisings in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the Solidarity movement in Poland, and the collapse of the communist bloc. But their primary interest is in the experimental art of the neo-avant-garde that resisted official agendas and engaged with global currents such as performance art, video, multimedia and net art. Review Through these books, art becomes more accessible --David Hockney The single most influential series of art books ever published --Apollo Outstanding exceptionally authoritative and well illustrated --Sunday Times For anyone seriously interested in the visual arts, it s hard to imagine life without Thames & Hudson s World of Art --The Times Educational Supplement Has single-handedly done for arts publishing what Penguin achieved for fiction and literature --The Daily Telegraph The single most influential series of art books ever published --Apollo Outstanding exceptionally authoritative and well illustrated --Sunday Times Through these books, which almost anyone can afford, art becomes more accessible --David Hockney Terrific --R. B. Kitaj Quality art books a comprehensive range of quality art books Frank Auerbach For anyone seriously interested in the visual arts, it s hard to imagine life without Thames & Hudson s World of Art --The Times Educational Supplement An extraordinarily rich and varied series --Linda Nochlin Wonderful --Gilbert & George The established authority --The Art Newspaper Well-written, informative and admirably illustrated guides --The Financial Times Outstanding --Art Quarterly A godsend of a series --Art Review Slim volumes at the heart of art --Daily Telegraph Has single-handedly done for arts publishing what Penguin achieved for fiction and literature --Daily Telegraph A wonderful series --Joe Tilson Wonderful --Anthony Caro Authoritative, succinct, full of insight, imaginative and thought-provoking --Marina Vaizey Brings text and images of high quality within the reach of millions --Sir Nicholas Serota This kind of book at this kind of price is what art publishing should be about --The New York Times Book Review Thames & 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 The first ever comprehensive, transnational survey of the major movements and practitioners of recent art from central and eastern Europe From the Back Cover In this path-breaking new history, Maja and Reuben Fowkes introduce outstanding artworks and major figures from across central and eastern Europe to reveal the movements, theories and styles that have shaped artistic practice since 1950. They emphasize the particularly rich and varied art scenes of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia, extending their gaze at intervals to East Germany, Romania, the Baltic states and the rest of the Balkans. While politics in the region have been marked by unstable geography and d