Which books could help me learn about the art theories of different periods?

Answer 1

Hello, this question encompasses a lot of information, so sorry for the long response!

Gardner's Art Through the Ages is a great tool for becoming familiar with the ideas and typical looks of multiple styles of art. The book also looks at art across a great number of historical periods. My copy is The Western Perspective 13th edition, and it starts at ancient art movements like cave paintings and prehistoric idol carvings. Slowly the book takes the reader through ancient Greek and Roman art, highlighting the differences between each style and its theories. As it moves into more recent art theories, it discusses the politics and social attitudes that effect the different art theories as well. This book is super dense and it covers a lot of material, so it's not a light read. It is very informative, though!

Another great read for more recent artworks is Modernism: The Lure of Heresy by Peter Gay, which takes the reader from the 1840s through the 20th century. This books looks very closely at art theory and the cultures that informed the artists of the Modern and Post-Modern movements. It's also a little bit easier to read than the first recommendation. I will say that this book also covers more well-known artists and their works, so overall it's more accessible to new students.

If you're looking for a book about specific artists and the theories behind their works, that's a tougher question to answer. A good place to start would be The Art Spirit by Robert Henri, who discusses his personal perspective on art and how it can be used as an emotional release and a tool for self expression and exploration. I also strongly recommend epistolary works like Vincent & Theo by Deborah Heiligman, which documents the life of artist Vincent Van Gogh through his letters with his brother, and showcases the mindset behind many of his famous works of art. These types of books which depend on letters, news articles, and journal entries from artists are an excellent way to get information about the theory of their art practice, and are also considered primary historical sources.