The Story of Art

Perhaps there is a better one-volume overview of the history of art in the West, but I have not seen it yet.Professor Gombrich's work is already a classic, and it will forever remain one for a few simple reasons. It is written in a straight-forward and clear style, so it is accessible by young and old alike. His enthusiasm and utter command of his subject are infectious, and he gives the reader many insights into the different periods and movements of art.For example, he makes a compelling argument that Cezanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh were the fore-fathers of modern art as we know it.When he makes comparisons to art movements over the centuries, the book is simply astounding. The plates are carefully selected by the author and serve as very telling samples. My only minor complaint: the paperback edition is somewhat flimsy and can easily tear apart for reasons unknown to me. But get this book and read it---your only regret will be that you didn't devour it sooner.

Such a great introduction to art! If you are even the slightest bit interested in art history, read this book. Actually, read it even if you aren't. I read this book because I didn't understand why people made such a big deal about famous paintings and artists. (I'm more of a music/writing person.) This book helped me begin to appreciate the kind of art you see in museums. This book has truly enriched my life. A few words on the pocket paperback edition. It is a gorgeously constructed book, with a matte jacket and two place-holding ribbons. The first section is the text, printed on bible-thickness paper in a nice typeface. The second part contains high-quality (but tiny) images of all the works referenced in the text, in the order that they are referenced. If possible, I would suggest buying one of the full-sized editions so you don't have to flip back and forth, and so that the images will be larger. However, those editions are a bit heavy to tote around all day.

I thought this was going to be a used copy. More likely it was remaindered. It is one of the most beautifully produced paperback books I have ever seen. The mostly full color reproductions are excellent; they & text on heavyweight paper. Some of illustrations fold out to provide a bigger view. Text is superb, especially so in making comparisons between illustrations by page & number—something that I find much more difficult to do in digital formats. Only downside is that after the author’s death, it hasn’t been revised since the 1970s.

Gombrich is a good idea for those who are just starting to learn something about Art.

Gombrich's text is, of course, a classic. The size of the book and its price are huge benefits. The are, however, two catches that make it less than perfect. First, the text pages are amazingly thin. I'm worried that they might tear and it's possible to see the text on the other side, which is distracting. Second, the text all goes first and THEN all of the plates together at the end. I understand the necessity of this strategy but it does mean that one has to flip back and forth between the text and the plates. Otherwise, it's a wonderful book and an ideal introduction to art. Given the exceptional price, the drawbacks become trivial. As such, it's an ideal text.

Great book.

Having already been exposed to art history and criticism, I felt at times that this book was overly simplistic. (It was originally written for "young people" after all...) What was harder for me to appreciate were the frequent passages in which Gombrich gives vent to his own personal opinions (gushing on about Rubens for instance.) He makes a token effort to be objective but his Eurocentric bias toward the superiority of Classically-inspired Renaissance art is clear. However, as an introduction to Art History and Art Appreciation, you could do a lot worse. Gombrich is easy to read, he states himself clearly, he presents the history of art (in Europe) as a steady evolution of ideas, rather than a compartmentalized series of Eras & Styles as so many academic textbooks do. He selected illustrations that most effectively elucidate his point. Useful as his book is, it would be a mistake to treat him as a final authority on the subject. _The Story of Art_ is merely an INTRODUCTION to art. Once Dr. Gombrich has opened the door for you, you should leave him behind and continue your explorations on your own, or at least with a different guide. Form your own opinions; that's part of the experience of art. About the Pocket Edition specifically: The text is in the front (printed on very thin "Bible" paper) and the illustrations are in the back. Phaidon has provided two built-in ribbon bookmarks so you can keep your place in both sections. It's an interesting solution for making the book smaller. I can vouch for the fact that it's easy to carry around, since I took it with me on two trips while reading it, but the arrangement does have its drawbacks. Having to flip back & forth to look at the pictures as they are referred to in the text, and having to hold two places simultaneously while reading means that you have to use both hands. I like to read while I eat (yeah, I'm one of THOSE people) but found it was impossible with this edition. If portability and price are your top concerns, then this is the edition to get. Otherwise, shell out the extra $$ for the full-sized version.

Ótimo livro!

5*

Si te interesa el arte o te dedicas a alguna de sus disciplinas o áreas, este libro sin duda alguna te introducirá de manera sencilla y clara al mundo del arte. Un clásico indispensable.

In this encyclopaedic work Mr Gombrich provides a simply masterful exposition of the history of architecture and the decorative arts.

This book tells the story of art lucidly, referring at every stage to beautiful plates to demonstrate the narrative. Reading it is like listening to a story from a dear old teacher who is passionate about the subject. For those interested in art and wanting to enjoy its journey over the years, this book tells it without the jargon and without the maddening "wordsmithing" which art critics often use. Recommended for beginners in art appreciation to read from end to end and for experienced art lovers to use as reference.