Chronology of… – serie

An entirely fresh perspective on the history of western art that uses timelines to trace cultural development from prehistory to the present. Most surveys of the history of art come neatly packaged. They are divided up into historic periods, artistic schools and movements, and the careers of individual painters. They may make the subject appear more manageable, but they are oversimplifications. In reality, movements and careers overlapped and intertwined, reacting to events in the world around them. A Chronology of Art places the genuine developments of the art world into sharp focus. By prioritizing a purely chronological approach and side-stepping the clichés of conventional, academic pigeonholes, it presents an entirely fresh perspective on the subject. The book is structured around a central timeline, which features lavish illustrations of paintings, together with commentaries, and additional information about the social, political and cultural events of the period. The text is divided into four historical sections, becoming more detailed as it nears the present. From 1800 onward, each spread covers a five-year span, which is far more comprehensive than other surveys of this kind. The chronological spreads are interwoven with lively ‘In Focus’ features, highlighting social, stylistic and technical developments.

A Chronology of Photography presents a fresh perspective on the medium by taking a purely chronological approach to its history, tracing the complex links between technological innovations, social changes, and artistic interventions. Structured around a central timeline that charts the development of photography from early experiments with optics right up to the present-day explosion of digital media, it features sumptuous reproductions of key photographs, together with commentaries and contextual information about the social, political and cultural events of the period in which they were taken. Special technical sections that explain how the development of new camera technology impacted the practice of photography, while feature spreads highlight important themes and influential practitioners. Covering a wide selection of genres, styles and artists, it is invaluable as a comprehensive guide to photography in all its different forms and functions.

An entirely fresh perspective on the history of cinema, using timelines to trace its development from the earliest moving images to now. This visual timeline for film enthusiasts makes the history of cinema – from the earliest moving images to the latest blockbusters – newly accessible by organizing it chronologically. • A large format makes it easy to trace the complex links between technological innovations, social changes and artistic interventions. • An easy-to-read timeline identifies key films, together with commentaries and contextual information about the social, political and cultural events of the period in which they were produced. • In-depth essays explore a variety of film genres and styles, break down the technical advancements of the last 150 years, and highlight pivotal figures who have shaped the development of filmmaking. With A Chronology of Film, cinema is an open book…