BOOK:30,000 Years Of Art, Phaidon Publications

The book “30,000 Years of Art” is an accessible, chronological introduction to art history from 28,000 BC to the present day, is a unique history of art, in that it is arranged in a manner that shows how art was progressing in other parts of the world concurrently with the rather better known Western canon, inviting some fascinating and illuminating comparisons.

By Efi Michalarou

Providing a truly global and comprehensive perspective, the book charts a course through art history that tracks seminal and lesser known works in all of the fields of arts. Featuring over 600 works across all media, from painting and sculpture to textile, metalwork, and ceramic, and updated to include new works from the 20th and 21st centuries, the book presents the defining moments of art history. This newly updated edition includes over 25 new entries that expand the scope of the book further into the 21st Century, without limiting its reach into the very distant past. What links the ice-age carvings of prehistoric man to the video projections, installations and preserved sharks in today’s galleries and museums? Each entry is accompanied with informative texts written by 35 of the museum curators, academics and archaeologists providing insights into each work that clearly explain their importance. An illustrated timeline, full index and extensive glossary of schools and movements make 30,000 Years of Art, an indispensable addition to any art library. The title offers an approachable, holistic account of art history, without succumbing to the Western prejudice or first-world bias too often found in such wide-reaching surveys.