Art: The Definitive Visual Guide (DK Definitive Cultural Histories)

Believe the good (vs "damaged" book) reviews. This book is well arranged and organized with a zillion sidebars on artists, movements, historical contexts, political history, technique/methods and so much more. From well-known to more obscure but equally influential artists.Overwhelming in a good way. And don't get me started on the pictures. Simply phenomenal.

The media could not be loaded. An astoundingly beautiful and comprehensive book, Art: The Definitive Visual History lives up to its name.Each page is not only printed on glossy paper but in high resolution and full color, allowing the reader to get the best possible experience of every piece of art included. Many historically significant works are given a two page spread to truly showcase it without distraction.Additionally, the book shows thoughtful layout and design from table of contents and color coded sections to back glossary and extensive index.The format eases the reader into the art world in the first 22 pages (13-35) by exploring different elements of art in the Looking at Art, which breaks down complex ideas into single paragraph summaries with one to three explanatory art pieces as examples. All remaining pages (36-595) are dedicated solely to artists and their pieces broken down into sections by time period, then further categorized by either the region, theme, or movement to which each belongs.I simply cannot recommended this book highly enough. I took many art history and appreciation classes in college and wish I’d been assigned this book as it is so much better than the ones we read. If you can only afford to have one high quality art book on your shelf, this is it.

Absolutely beautiful book that I was hoping to give my daughter (an art student at the Savannah College of Art and Design) for Christmas, but unfortunately it arrived damaged and the box it came in was perfectly fine.

Book is organized so well and pictures are great quality

The media could not be loaded. Arrived in perfect conditions, it’s a giant, heavy and beautiful book. The imagesare printed as well. Truly a treasure!

This is what I was looking for! It makes a beautiful coffee table book and an informative read!

This arrived in perfect conditions, I am ordering in other colors. It looks nice on coffee table and there is good content as well.

I believe this is a good book. I only flipped through and did not really read it. I can tell it covers a full spectrum of the art history and quality of the printing is excellent.I ended up returning it because the print in this book is really small and it's hard to read without straining my eyes. It is understandable because it would be a huge book otherwise.