World Famous Comics: The Story of Art: Pocket Edition
The Story of Art: Pocket Edition
By: E.H. Gombrich Publisher: Phaidon Press Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Phaidon Press Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 1044 Publication Date: October 07, 2006
Product Description: New Format and Redesign of the World'sBest Selling Art Book"Gombrich (1909-2001) had a gift for clear, conversational language, anarrative approach, and an interest in pop culture--he even included massmedia and cartoons in The Story of Art. The book, which receives highpraise in the CAA report [a recent assessment of art history textbooks bythe College Art Association], is today the world's best selling art historytextbook, with total sales of 8 million copies."-Art News, February 2006E.H. Gombrich's warm, lively, opinionated--yet never patronizing--authorialvoice brings history to life in a way that attracts both adults and youngreaders alike.Last year the first English translation of A Little Historyof the World, originally written in 1935 in German, was a surprisepublishing success.Yet, this isn't even Gombrich's most popular work. The Story of Art has sold over 8 million copies, has been translated intomore than 30 languages and served as the standard introduction to arthistory for students around the world for the past century.Now, the bookwill be available in a new affordable format, in wide release for thegeneral public, just in time for the holidays.Phaidon Press is pleased to announce the publication of THE STORY OF ART:POCKET EDITION by E.H. Gombrich, a re-designed, re-formatted compactedition of one of the best-known and best-loved books on art ever written. This new edition combines smoothly flowing text with a clear, simple designin a convenient and accessible format.The new edition allows this classicwork to continue its triumphant progress for another generation, and toremain the first choice for all newcomers to art. Phaidon Press commissioned Gombrich during World War II to write a historyof art for young people.In 1950, The Story of Art was published and so aclassic was born.Gombrich dictated the whole text from memory, usingillustrations from books in his library as prompts.The outcome was aseminal work of criticism and one of the most accessible introductions tothe visual arts.Starting with the cave paintings at Lascaux andstretching as far as Postmodernism, the whole of art history is presentedas a chronological narrative.Using vivid imagery, storytelling and slyhumor, Gombrich's voice draws in all--the student, connoisseur, or amateur. The Story of Art has always been admired for two key qualities: it is apleasure to read and a pleasure to handle.The pocket edition is noexception.With this new edition this classic work is now as accessible asthe story inside.Gombrich's extraordinary knowledge and wisdom willcontinue to teach and inspire generation after generation.
Pretty good. For somebody interested in art, a book with many pictures is easy to read and enjoy.
Great Edition of Great Book The convenience of the pocket edition is incredible and the quality of the images and analysis is excellent.
Classic Text - better than you've heard The Story of Art is a classic introduction to the history of fine art. The sweeping scope is matched only by the driven narrative that will fascinate the neophyte and the well versed. This book is THE introductory text for any study of art.
Story of Art As his title indicates, in The Story of Art Gombrich presents the whole of western art history as a chronological narrative -- from prehistoric times on up to his own times -- clearly setting out everything from ancient sculpture to Renaissance painting to modern architecture.This book can change the way you look art.Intellectually and physically pure delight.
Don't Rely Solely on Gombrich Having already been exposed to art history and criticism, I felt at times that this book was overly simplistic. (It was originally written for "young people" after all...) What was harder for me to appreciate were the frequent passages in which Gombrich gives vent to his own personal opinions (gushing on about Rubens for instance.) He makes a token effort to be objective but his Eurocentric bias toward the superiority of Classically-inspired Renaissance art is clear.
However, as an introduction to Art History and Art Appreciation, you could do a lot worse. Gombrich is easy to read, he states himself clearly, he presents the history of art (in Europe) as a steady evolution of ideas, rather than a compartmentalized series of Eras & Styles as so many academic textbooks do. He selected illustrations that most effectively elucidate his point. Useful as his book is, it would be a mistake to treat him as a final authority on the subject. _The Story of Art_ is merely an INTRODUCTION to art. Once Dr. Gombrich has opened the door for you, you should leave him behind and continue your explorations on your own, or at least with a different guide. Form your own opinions; that's part of the experience of art.
About the Pocket Edition specifically: The text is in the front (printed on very thin "Bible" paper) and the illustrations are in the back. Phaidon has provided two built-in ribbon bookmarks so you can keep your place in both sections. It's an interesting solution for making the book smaller. I can vouch for the fact that it's easy to carry around, since I took it with me on two trips while reading it, but the arrangement does have its drawbacks. Having to flip back & forth to look at the pictures as they are referred to in the text, and having to hold two places simultaneously while reading means that you have to use both hands. I like to read while I eat (yeah, I'm one of THOSE people) but found it was impossible with this edition. If portability and price are your top concerns, then this is the edition to get. Otherwise, shell out the extra $$ for the full-sized version.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
