Art Periods & Movements Series

Human beings have always been fascinated by the sea and have been navigating the seas, whether for trade or discovery, since the beginning of civilization. As a result, boats and the sea have been depicted from an early age in the visual arts. This volume offers numerous high-quality illustrations that trace the development of maritime art: from the beginnings as a backdrop to other themes, to the time when the Dutch were unrivalled masters of the seas, from the events on the sea depicted by the English, to the great studies of nature of the Impressionists.

Impressionism 1860-1910

by Kristina Menzel, Uta Hasekamp, Daniel Kiecol, and Olaf Mextorf

Published 1 July 2019

In the 1860s, a style of painting emerged in Paris which fundamentally called into question the artistic concepts that had been prevalent in academies up to that time. Impressionist artists such as Monet, Renoir, and Degas now focused on their impression of the moment, which was captured in paintings depicting moods and light at certain times of the day and of the season, as well as in snapshots of modern life. This new kind of artistic worldview spread to other countries in Europe and the United States, which in turn produced numerous Impressionist painters. With more than 450 works, Impressionism 1860-1910 presents an overview of the most important Impressionist paintings.

Renaissance 1420-1600

by Kristina Menzel, Uschi Baetz, Ruth Dangelmaier, Uta Hasekamp, and Daniel Kiecol

Published 1 July 2019

During the origin of Renaissance painting in Italy, a world view was revived that enabled man to determine his own existence. In painting, new themes developed along with an orientation toward representing reality. This naturalism was influenced by Dutch painting from around 1450, and as the fifteenth century transitioned into the sixteenth, Rome followed Florence as the center of the Renaissance. Shortly thereafter, the new style radiated to other countries. In northern Europe, the Renaissance combined with late medieval currents, which also placed earthly existence at the center of attention. Renaissance 1420-1600 shows with more than 400 works an overview of the most important paintings of the era.

Baroque 1600-1780

by Kristina Menzel, Ruth Dangelmaier, Uta Hasekamp, Katrin Hoeller, and Daniel Kiecol

Published 1 July 2019

The baroque period spanned the whole of Europe from 1600 to 1780. Beginning with Italian artists who brought drama to painting through dynamic compositions and pronounced contrasts between light and dark, the baroque was later exported by countless artists to their own countries, where the new style developed in different ways. With its monumental historical paintings and magnificent portraits, catering to sovereign desires for splendor and demonstrations of both secular and religious power, the baroque rose to become the style of European court art. The latest phase of the baroque, known as rococo, began in about 1720 and was characterized by an increased sense of playfulness and intimacy. With more than 450 works, Baroque 1600-1780 presents an overview of the most important paintings of the period.

European Painting 1750-1880

by Daniel Kiecol

Published 1 January 2020

The period between 1750 and the end of the 19th century was a time of upheaval. Industrialization in England, the French Revolution, Napoleon and the formation of states in Germany and Italy are just a few historical events that define this period. All these developments were also reflected in European painting: from the rediscovery of antiquity in classicism, through Romanticism with its various national forms, to realism, which discovered completely new themes for art. Containing more than 500 works, this volume is an overview of the most important paintings of these and other styles of this exciting epoch.

Art of Florence

by Uta Hasekamp

Published 1 October 2026

American Painting

by Daniel Kiecol

Published 1 February 2021

Flemish and Dutch Baroque Painting

by Uta Hasekamp

Published 1 October 2019

Even though it was a time of near financial ruin in Flanders, Baroque art flourished during this period thanks to the patronage of an arts-minded aristocracy. Meanwhile, the Dutch had become rich from trade and the desire for art found its way into almost every social class in the Netherlands. The naturalistic traditions shared by the two halves of the Low Countries experienced a renaissance of their own at this time.

Frescoes

by Uta Hasekamp

Published 30 April 2020

The fresco - a painting on fresh plaster - is a technique of wall painting used since antiquity. Frescoes serve a wide variety of purposes: In churches as a Bible in pictures and for the representation of the life of saints or the truths of faith; in town halls they depict the ideals of a city government, in castles and palaces the appreciation of art and the sovereign virtues of the sponsors. This volume is devoted to frescoes and other impressive wall and ceiling paintings from the Romanesque period to the 19th century.

Russian Painting

by Daniel Kiecol

Published 4 November 2020

Gothic 1200-1500

by Uta Hasekamp

Published 1 July 2019

Painting from 1200 to 1500 is a mirror of its time, marked by deep religiousness as well as progressive tendencies, by economic prosperity as well as devastating wars and epidemics. A religious perspective is joined by secular themes and efforts to achieve a realistic way of representation. These developments take place in book illumination, which is accessible to rather few people, as well as in the public medium of frescoes and, since 1300, also in panel paintings. With nearly 500 works, Gothic 1200-1500 gives an overview of the visual art of the time.

Erotic Art

by Daniel Kiecol

Published 23 August 2018

This illustrated book presents representations of erotic art, from the oldest civilizations to the mid-20th century. Ingres, Fragonard, Japanese and Chinese prints, frescoes and vases from ancient Rome, 16th century engravings, daguerreotypes from the late 19th century, drawings by Rodin, works by Schiele--suggestive or crude, these representations are among the most beautiful and remarkable in the history of art.

Art Nouveau

by Uta Hasekamp

Published 1 July 2019

Art Nouveau was a phenomenon with many faces. Between 1890 and 1910, artists developed a variety of styles from the plant-like forms of the Belgian-French Art Nouveau to the ornamentation of the Viennese Secession. They were all striving to create a new, modern style and pursued a comprehensive renewal of art and, in some countries, also a renewed national identity.

Russian Painting 1800-1945

by Daniel Kiecol

Published 1 July 2019

From the earliest examples of national art at the beginning of the nineteenth century and the romantic seascapes of Aivasovsky, to the great Realists such as Ilya Repin and the innovators of the Russian avant-garde, Russian painting offers a wealth of works of art to rediscover. Grandiose landscapes, haunting portraits, and exciting artistic experiments--hardly any other artistic nation offers a comparable variety of styles and artistic personalities. This book presents an overview of the most important Russian paintings, with more than 450 works.

Italian Renaissance Painting

by Ruth Dangelmaier

Published 1 July 2019

The Italian Renaissance is one of the most important eras in Western art. Painters including Masaccio, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Titian brought about a fundamental renewal that influenced all of Europe. More than 50 of the most important artists up to 1600 are presented in this book with more than 270 color illustrations.

Mosaic

by Daniel Kiecol

Published 1 July 2019

For thousands of years and in many cultures people have been inspired by mosaics. Whether the stylistically reduced pebble mosaics of the Greeks or the golden splendor of the Byzantine churches--their stylistic diversity is just as great as the diversity of the materials used. With more than 200 illustrations, this volume shows the impressive range of this art form.

Japanese Woodcuts

by Olaf Mextorf

Published 13 November 2019

This book contains more than 350 masterworks of artists such as Hiroshite, Utamaro, Harunobu, Eisen, and Hokusai, all from the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum.