Modern Art

From the origins of modernism to the politics of performance art, Modern Art is a comprehensive introduction to the artists, movements and theories of twentieth century art history. Spanning a century of art--from Manet, Renoir, Picasso and Matisse to Kandinsky, Rothko, Hirst and Whiteread--this lavishly illustrated volume follows the development of traditional genres such as the female nude and traces the emergence of new schools of thought which fragmented modern art into a bewildering variety of "isms" from Expressionism to Constructivism.

Relating artistic movements to their social and cultural contexts, Pam Meecham and Julie Sheldon cover the major movements of the twentieth century and explore key themes of the modern era, such as the figure of the nude, the changing nature of self-expression, and the question of the display of artworks. Bridging the gap between art theory and art history, Modern Art is a captivating survey of the field and is sure to enrich our understanding of art in the modern era.