Art, Context and Criticism

This introduction to the critical tools for analyzing art aims to heighten readers' awareness of the historical context behind the ideas about art. The intention is to assist readers in developing their own informed criticism, based on an examination of the idea and context of art, instead of relying on formal analysis alone, thus broadening readers' appreciation of the diversity of artistic expression. This edition includes expanded coverage of women, including Emily Carr, Frida Kahlo and Georgia O'Keefe, as well as discussion of ancient Chinese and Indian cultures to increase students' exposure to non-Western art. In addition, technical discussions on photography and lithography have been added to explain how these processes work.