This wide-ranging collection of 50 iconic portraits includes works by many of the world's most renowned artists, each with their own style, technique, and story to tell. Throughout the history of art, most of the world's greatest artists have produced portraits at some point in their careers, whether commissioned by rulers or magnates; created to preserve a cherished friend or relation; or even to capture the artist's own likeness. Arranged chronologically, each of the 50 masterworks in this book exemplifies a moment in history, or a turning point in the artist's career. Van Eyck's A Man in a Turban, Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, Sargent's Madame X, Kahlo's Self-Portrait with Necklace, Warhol's Marilyn, and many more world-famous paintings are featured in exquisite full-page reproductions accompanied by engaging and enlightening texts. An introductory essay on the history and importance of the portrait in art history and brief biographies of each artist round out this survey that provides valuable information in an attractive and affordable package.

This collection of world-renowned photographs offers a stunning visual history of photography and photojournalism. The birth of photography opened the doors to a new kind of art, one that recorded events with the immediacy not possible with painting and drawing. This volume is a chronologically arranged compendium of memorable images of unforgettable people, places, and moments. Including images recording humankind conquering the air, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbing Mount Everest, and the attack on the World Trade Center, this volume features double-page spreads that create a visual timeline. From war to nature, movie stars to artists, the surface of Mars to the devastation of Katrina, this thoroughly up-to-date record captures historical moments such as the horror of the Japanese tsunami and the excitement of the political revolution in the Middle East. Recording moments both intimate and earth-shaking, these photographs speak volumes about where we've been and the direction we're headed.

Lucian Freud dedicated his life to portraying the people in his world without flattery or refinement. Although his technique and style evolved tremendously over the decades, Freud never wavered in his uncompromising standards or unsentimental approach to his subjects. This introduction to Freud's life and oeuvre opens with an illuminating essay that explores how Freud's adherence to realism and focus on the human figure moved him in and out of the spotlight until the 1980s when renewed international interest in painting and figuration gave his work a new significance. Stunning reproductions of key works are presented chronologically, allowing readers to see how Freud's brushwork, composition, and use of light evolved over the decades. Whether he was painting members of the royal family or the cashier at a London nightclub, Freud imbued his portraits with psychological tension, humanity, and a profound interest in the relationship between painter and model.

Although Bosch's known works amount to no more than two dozen paintings and a handful of drawings, the artist had an enormous impact on religious imagery during his lifetime and for centuries afterward. His enigmatic and mind-bending depictions of humans, animals, and nature undoubtedly influenced the surrealist movement of the 20th century. This book explores Bosch's works in terms of medieval morality, the religious beliefs of his time, and the Northern Renaissance in general. This elegant volume offers exquisite, full-colour reproductions that afford readers the opportunity to linger over the works' amazing details. The accompanying text examines Bosch's singular place in the canon of Western art, as a revolutionary portrayer of the imagination, and as a pioneer in the depiction of heaven and hell.

From painters and photographers to sculptors and performance artists, fifty of the most influential contemporary artists are profiled in this colorful and engaging book that traces the various artistic movements and radical changes of the second half of the twentieth century. Presented chronologically, each artist is featured in one or two double page spreads that include brilliant reproductions of their most important works, a succinct text about their work and life, an insightful biography with key dates in their career, and informative background on major developments in the art world. As diverse and inspiring as the artists themselves, this book is a voyage of discovery into art's cutting edge.

The latest volume in this successful series introduces young readers to major movements in art history--from Romanesque to Pop art. Filled with gorgeous color reproductions and packed with fascinating information, this beautiful book presents a chronological sampling of the world's important artistic styles. Double-page spreads provide a detailed description of each movement, representative illustrations, and a timeline that places the artwork in its historical context. All of these elements are presented in a playful, eye-catching manner that will appeal to a wide range of young readers. The book also features numerous ideas for projects that kids can undertake themselves and offers helpful suggestions for learning more about each style. Children will find hours of fun reading that will equip them with essential knowledge--enhancing and deepening their understanding of art history and inspiring them in their own artistic endeavors.

The newest addition to Prestel s highly successful 50...You Should Know series offers the perfect introduction to the best contemporary photographers and their most iconic works. This globetrotting collection of contemporary photographers and their work is a great way to become familiar with the wide variety of techniques and styles embraced by the medium. Organized chronologically by year of birth, each photographer is introduced in double-page spreads that feature reproductions of their work and a perceptive and concise appreciation of their life and career. From Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama, famous for his images of post-war Japan, to Richard Mosse, an Irish conceptual documentarian who uses infrared film to document war in the Eastern Congo from a bold new perspective, this book offers an exciting array of familiar and not-so-familiar works. Among the photographers included are Nan Goldin, William Eggleston, Sebastia o Salgado, Sally Mann, Nobuyoshi Araki, Dayanita Singh, Juergen Teller, and Alec Soth.By reaching across the globe and including artists whose work is experimental, groundbreaking, thought-provoking, or beautiful, this book presents a panoply of today s most remarkable photographers. "

There's something irresistible about a skyscraper. It can reshape an entire city skyline and from the building's top floors, people can see the world from a different perspective. Travelling from New York City to Dubai, from London to Shanghai, and from Kuala Lumpur to Chicago, this colorful book featuresdouble-page spreads for each of the skyscrapers it profiles. Each chapter includes photographs, information on the building's architect and history, and interesting facts about its construction and use. For instance, why is the Chrysler Building so admired, even though it doesn't stand nearly as tall as other skyscrapers? How do you measure the height of a building and how do you make sure it doesn't topple over in strong winds? How has skyscraper technology changed, from the steel frame skeletons that supported the earliest towers to the advanced computer programs that are now needed to design buildings more than 100 stories high? How has city life changed since the first skyscrapers were built? Written in a style that will draw in young readers, this fascinating tour of the world's tallest buildings will satisfy even the most curious minds.

The bridges profiled in this engaging book for young readers have achieved legendary status. Filled with photographs, plans, drawings and informative texts it explores the fascinating history, construction, design and significance of 13 renowned structures in a manner that will appeal to children hungry for information. In double-page spreads that highlight important as well as little-known facts, they will learn about the building of the Millau Viaduct, the tallest bridge in the world; how the Golden Gate bridge lives up to its evocative name; the haunting history of Venice's 16th-century Bridge of Sighs, and the ingenious construction methods devised by the builders of the Brooklyn Bridge. Vibrantly designed to encourage children to linger and explore the subject further, this book will appeal to curious minds, and inspire its young readers to dream and build on their own.

This beautifully illustrated book explores some of the world's iconic images, teaching children about the impact of photography on their world. Some of the world's most renowned pictures are also the most exciting to view and discuss. From Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon to the fall of the Berlin Wall; Lindbergh's historic landing in Paris to Nelson Mandela's release from prison; portraits of Albert Einstein, Princess Diana and the Beatles; the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, and the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico--these and other history-making photographs are presented in double-page spreads that offer stunning reproductions of the images themselves, helpful background information on the events and people they portray, and perspectives on the circumstances that inspired them. Paging through these photographs, children will learn not only about people and events that changed the world, but how photographs preserve and help us understand these important moments.