The major art pieces, most important artists, and significant artistic movements from 35,000 BCE to today are collected together in this easy-to-read resource on art history. It leads you on a tour from the basics and beginnings of art to the various directions that art is heading today. You'll not only learn about paintings, but also every other medium imaginable, including sculpture, architecture, pottery, photography, installation art, and even film and video games. The nearly 150 color images illustrate artistic concepts and highlight important and memorable artworks. Loaded with 800 questions and answers on art principles, techniques, materials, forms, colors and styles, movements, schools of thoughts, evolution and meaning, The Handy Art History Answer Book is a fascinating journey around the world and through the ages. Why do Egyptian figures have two left feet? What is the difference between weaving and tapestry? What happened to the Venus de Milo's arms? What is considered beautiful in Islamic art? How can you recognize "a Michelangelo"? What is the significance of the Aztec eagle-man? How did Cezanne "astonish Paris with apples"? What is the difference between Art Nouveau and Art Deco? Why do Jeff Koons's balloon animals sell for millions of dollars?

The Art of Discovery. The Discovery of Art. The History of Art Warhol, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. Picasso, Monet, and Rembrandt, Ai WeiWei and Jenny Holzer. What were they thinking when they created their masterworks? While we can't always know an artist's exact thoughts, The Handy Art History Answer Book examines their benefactors, their wealth or poverty, their passions, the politics, and the world events that inspired and influenced them. Explore their techniques and materials, the forms, colors and styles, the movements and schools of thoughts, and discover the varied forms and nature of artistic expression. Tracing art history from cave paintings to contemporary installations, along with Romanticism, Impressionism and the numerous "isms" in-between, The Handy Art History Answer Book guides you through the major art movements, artists, and important art pieces from 35,000 B.C.E. to today. This fascinating book provides an overview of art from its history and basic principles to its evolution, philosophy, and the masters who created groundbreaking works that changed its course forever. Accessible and entertaining, this captivating book answers over 600 questions, such as ... What