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Home > Categories > Books > Non-Fiction > The Story of Art review
The Story of Art, one of the most famous and popular books on art ever written, has been a world bestseller for over half a century. Attracted by the simplicity and clarity of his writing, readers of all ages and backgrounds have found in Professor Gombrich a true master, who combines knowledge and wisdom with a unique gift for communicating his deep love of the subject.
For this new, compact edition The Story of Art has been completely redesigned, giving a fresh perspective to Gombrich's well-loved text. The illustrations, collected together in a separate section towards the back of the book for easy reference, vividly illustrate the lively and engaging narrative and are in colour throughout.
The Story of Art has always been admired for two key qualities: it is a pleasure to read and a pleasure to handle. In these respects the pocket edition is no exception, combining smoothly flowing text with a clear, simple design in a convenient and accessible format. The new edition allows this classic work to continue its triumphant progress for another generation, and to remain the title of first choice for all newcomers to art.
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Review by: diogenes (Rob)
Dated: 3rd of January, 2007
Art is one of those subjects one either loves or loathes. If you loathe art, then perhaps this book is for you.
Let me explain. The art world seems to be governed by over-rated art liberally smothered in pretentious language with excludes many people from wanting to know more. One is afraid to ask, and even when one does ask, the reply is often exceedingly verbose and somewhat flowery and one feels none the wiser.
Does this sound familiar to you? That has certainly been my experience of art; to the point that I have had a loathing for modern artists whose language of their piece seems to be more descriptive of the work than the actual work presented.
Perhaps it is for this reason that Gombrich wrote The Story of Art which was first published over fifty years ago. His gentle narrative explains and illuminates in a simple manner belying the sophisticated nature of his work. The language, he states, is deliberately free from the jargon that surrounds art today and this alone, makes the book readable,but also enjoyable. There is nothing worse than being immersed in mind-bending jargon.
Gombrich starts, as with every story, at the beginning with the scratchings of primitive man, and takes us on a journey through ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia through the centuries to modern day. The book isn't just a dry and academic text. It is a lively ride through the pages of this book, which is comprehensively illustrated with examples. The examples alone constitute more than half the book!
So, from an art loather, I cannot say I am now an art expert, but I can say I have a greater understanding of the beauty of art - and that is more that I could have ever hoped to achieve. This book was described as a classic when it was first printed. It firmly remains a classic and will continue to do so for many years to come.
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