History & Criticism

Here are the two most treasured documents of American freedom together on one audiobook....

Five women revolutionize the modern art world in postwar America in this "gratifying, generous, and lush" true story from a National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize finalist (Jennifer Szalai, New York Times)....

The Swedish painter Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) was forty-four years old when she broke with the academic tradition in which she had been trained to produce a body of radical, abstract works the likes of which had never been seen before....

In this vivid and captivating journey through the colors of an artist’s palette, Victoria Finlay takes us on an enthralling adventure around the world and through the ages, illuminating how the colors we choose to value have determined the history of culture itself....

Poet and essayist Cathy Park Hong fearlessly and provocatively blends memoir, cultural criticism, and history to expose fresh truths about racialized consciousness in America. Part memoir and part cultural criticism, this collection is vulnerable, humorous, and provocative....

First published in 1973, this is a study of the force of photographic images, which are continually inserted between experience and reality....

At the same time Adolf Hitler was attempting to take over the western world, his armies were methodically seeking and hoarding the finest art treasures in Europe.....

Have your sense of art history overturned and your eyes opened to many artforms often ignored or dismissed. From the Cornish coast to Manhattan, Nigeria to Japan, this is the history of art as it's never been told before....

Each night, when the hours of painting and drawing were over, Vincent van Gogh put pen to paper and poured out his heart through letters to his beloved brother Theo, his confidant and companion....

A riveting story of how dueling ambitions and the power of prodigy made America the cultural center of the world—and Picasso the most famous artist alive—in the shadow of World War II....

Jerry Saltz is one of our most-watched writers about art and artists and a passionate champion of the importance of art in our shared cultural life. Since the 1990s he has been an indispensable cultural voice: Witty and provocative, he has attracted contemporary listeners to fine art....

Michelangelo, God's Architect is the first book to tell the full story of Michelangelo's final two decades, when the peerless artist refashioned himself into the master architect of St. Peter’s Basilica and other major buildings....

Part treatise, part critique, part call to action, Reclaiming Art in the Age of Artifice is a journey into the uncanny realities revealed to us in the great works of art of the past and present....

Coming face to face with an important illuminated manuscript in the original is rather like meeting a very famous person....

Like Love is a momentous, raucous collection of essays drawn from twenty years of Maggie Nelson's brilliant work. These profiles, reviews, remembrances, tributes, and critical essays, as well as several conversations with friends and idols, bring to life Nelson's passion for dialogue and dissent.

Rembrandt Is in the Wind is an invitation to discover some of the world's most celebrated artists and works and how each of them illuminates something about God, people, and the purpose of life....

From the acclaimed biographer and author of Balzac's Omelette comes an engaging new work on the life of "the father of Impressionism" and the role his Jewish background played in his artistic creativity....

As a brilliant art critic and historian, Laura Cumming has explored the importance of art in life and can give us a perspective on the time and place in which the artist worked....

Perceiving the Arts presents the basic formal, technical, experiential, and contextual qualities of the arts in a brief, clear, and factual manner. Students will develop confidence in approaching the arts and will gain skills that encourage life-long artistic and cultural engagement....

A wild and unexpected journey through culture, science, philosophy, and religion to better understand the mercurial genius of William Blake....

What is art? Why do we value images of saints, kings, goddesses, battles, landscapes or cities from eras of history utterly remote from ourselves....

Leonardo's Brain uses Da Vinci as a starting point for an exploration of human creativity....

Keith Haring is synonymous with the downtown New York art scene of the 1980s. His artwork - with its simple, bold lines and dynamic figures in motion - filtered in to the world's consciousness and is still instantly recognizable, 20 years after his death....

This audiobook narrated by best-selling author Mary Beard explores how images of Roman autocrats have influenced art, culture, and the representation of power....

When Roxana Robinson’s definitive biography of O’Keeffe was first published in 1989, it received rave reviews and was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year....

In Robyn’s 2010 track Dancing on My Own, the Swedish pop-singer chronicles a night on the dance floor in the shadow of a former lover. She is bitter, angry, and at times desperate, and yet by the time the chorus arrives her frustration has melted away. She decides to dance on her own, and in this way, she transforms her solitude into a more complex joy. Taking inspiration from Robyn’s seminal track, emerging art critic and curator Simon Wu dances through the institutions of art, capitalism, and identity in these expertly researched, beautifully rendered essays.

A pattern is a repeated design that is found everywhere in our world and even in outer space. All around you are both simple patterns and complicated patterns. The spiral of a seashell is very complex. But, there are patterns more complicated than a seashell. When did humans discover or invent patterns? There are cave paintings that are around 10,000 years old. They show hands in a pattern with 5 fingers.

Stories of "The American West" often rely on tired tropes of tough cowboys, but real history is much less straight and narrow and way more interesting. Join host Niecy Nash-Betts for a wild round-up of LGBTQ+ lives that got buried in the dust of popular culture and history, and a look at how queer people continue to shape the West today–from gay rodeo to two-spirit identity to trans truckers.

Like Love is a momentous, raucous collection of essays drawn from twenty years of Maggie Nelson's brilliant work. These profiles, reviews, remembrances, tributes and critical essays, as well as several conversations with friends and idols, bring to life Nelson's passion for dialogue and dissent. Arranged chronologically, Like Love shows the writing, thinking, feeling, reading, looking and conversing that occupied Nelson while writing iconic books such as Bluets and The Argonauts.

Received opinion holds that art is culturally determined and relative. We are told that whether a picture, a movement, a text, or sound qualifies as a "work of art" largely depends on social attitudes and convention. Drawing on examples ranging from Paleolithic cave paintings to modern pop music and building on the ideas of James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Gilles Deleuze, Carl Jung, and others, J.F. Martel argues that art is an inborn human phenomenon that precedes the formation of culture and even society.

When Orlando Whitfield met Inigo Philbrick, they were ambitious art history students who dreamt of dealing art for a living. Their friendship would last for fifteen years until one day, Inigo - by then the most successful dealer of his generation - disappeared, accused of a fraud so gigantic and audacious it rocked the art world to its core.

Dive into the mesmerizing world of art with "The Visual Revolution," an enthralling eBook that takes you on a journey through the groundbreaking art movements that shaped our world. Discover the pivotal artists, daring trends, and revolutionary ideas that forever changed the course of art history. Unravel the fascinating story of late 19th-century art movements that set the stage for the birth of modernism, as "The Visual Revolution" leads you through Art Nouveau, Symbolism, and the revolutionary work of Paul Cézanne. Delve into the vibrant world of German Expressionism and the unique ...

Step into an artistic journey that spans across time and cultures with the enthralling eBook, Shaping Humanity. Immerse yourself in the rich history of human representation in art and discover how our perceptions of the human form have evolved throughout the ages. This captivating eBook delves into the fascinating world of art, blending every form of artistic expression to reveal how the human figure has been interpreted and celebrated across the globe. In Shaping Humanity, you will explore the ancient world's early attempts at depicting the human form and how Egyptian art stylized and ...

Embark on a captivating journey through the threads of time with "Weaving Through History," the enthralling eBook that entwines the rich tapestry of our past with the fibers of our cultural fabric. Delve deep into an odyssey that spans across global civilizations, unraveling the pivotal role textiles have played in shaping our world. As you turn the virtual pages of this comprehensive exploration, you will discover the profound influence that textiles have exerted on society—from defining cultural identity to dictating economic fate. Each chapter meticulously interlaces historical ...

Are you a fan of the grunge music era? Do you remember the rise of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden? From Grunge to Globalization takes you on a journey through the 1990s and explores the cultural impact of the grunge music scene. In this eBook, learn about the roots of grunge music and how it gained popularity. Discover the message behind the iconic figure, Kurt Cobain, and the success vs. counterculture identity of Pearl Jam. Travel through the Seattle scene and explore the alternative nation through festival culture and Lollapalooza. In addition to the music, the book also explores ...

Step into "Weaving the Future," a revolutionary eBook that invites you on an odyssey through the fusion of art, technology, and cultural expression. This transformative journey will shift your perspective on how art forms from the past embolden modern innovation and cultural sustainability. Embark on an exploration of our artistic heritage and how it intertwines with technological evolution in Chapter 1. Witness the profound transformation of mediums, from the tactile to the digital, and be amazed by how the resurgence of artisanal techniques meld with the digital age in Chapter 2. As you ...

Discover "The Essence of Less," a transformative journey that invites you to strip away the superfluous and embrace the profound power of simplicity. Venture into the heart of minimalism where less is infinitely more and unlock the secrets of living a life unencumbered by needless excess. The narrative begins with "Prelude to Simplicity," unveiling minimalism's myriad definitions and tracing its rich historical roots, from ancient philosophies to contemporary movements. As you delve into the "Genesis of Minimalism," witness the interplay of Eastern thought with pioneering European art ...

Dive into the time-honored tradition that binds cultures across the globe with "Tanned Tales" - a fascinating journey through the world of hide tanning. This compelling eBook encapsulates the essence of an art form that has been shaping human civilization since the dawn of time. Exploring this craft's rich tapestry, you will be enveloped in a story that spans continents, cultures, and centuries. Embark on a historical odyssey in Chapter 1, where the cultural significance of hide tanning is unveiled, casting light on its symbolic and societal roles through time. From the earliest methods to ...

Discover a world of intricate beauty, a realm where art converges with history, culture, and a touch of magic. "Tiny Treasures" is your passport to the enchanting universe of miniature painting, a phenomenon that has captivated enthusiasts and collectors for centuries. Navigate through the delicate interplay of brush strokes and colors on canvases that defy the constraints of size, revealing the limitless potential of human creativity. Embark on this mesmerizing literary odyssey that unveils the rich tapestry of the miniature art form - from its storied origins to the dynamic contemporary ...

Dive into the rich tapestry of contemporary art with "Stitched Modernity," the ultimate eBook for anyone captivated by the intersection of tradition and innovation in the world of embroidery. This captivating volume unspools the vibrant threads of embroidery's evolution, taking you on a journey through its transformation into a boundary-pushing art form. Are you intrigued by the resurgence of embroidery in modern art and design? "Stitched Modernity" is your curated guide, exploring how this ancient craft has been reimagined by artists who stitch their narratives into every piece. With an ...