Reviews

Modern Art Explorer: Discover the Stories Behind Famous Artworks by Serge Bloch, Alice Harman

pwbalto's review against another edition

3.0

Hey wouldn’t it be great if the thoughtful and engaging commentary in this book, the smart questions that prompt the reader to look and look again at the large reproductions of the art - were directed at a more diverse collection of art? I am a damn broken record on this I know, and at least this book includes more women (the likes of Goncharova, Meret Oppenheim, Sophie Tauber and Aurelie Nemours join usual suspects Kahlo and Nevelson) but the entire non European world is represented by El Anatsui, Anish Kapoor, and Atsuko Tanaka.
It’s a really good collection, don’t get me wrong, but honestly I don’t think a child’s eventual experience of 20th century art would be handicapped by replacing Picasso, Pollack and Warhol with Nkanga, Xiuzhen, and Wa Lehulere. Just once.

libraryrobin's review against another edition

3.0

A guided introduction to modern art for kids, with stories behind the works, artists lives, and thinking points.