100 Ideas that Changed Art

From the earliest cave paintings through to the internet and street art, this inspiring book chronicles the 100 most influential ideas that have shaped the world of art. Arranged in broadly chronological order, it provides a source of inspiration and a fascinating resource for the general reader to dip into.

The book shows how developments in materials (oil paint, plastics, paint in tubes) and technology (paper, photography, welding) have radically changed the way that art is produced, both physically and conceptually, and how these changes have run parallel with other discoveries such as the camera obscura, the study of optics and anatomy and influences from wider culture (the unconscious, political and conceptual art). Each entry explores when an idea first evolved and how it has resurfaced in the work of different artists up to the present day.

Lavishly illustrated with historical masterpieces and packed with fascinating contemporary examples, this is an inspirational and wholly original guide to understanding the forces that have shaped world art.

About the author:
Michael Bird is a writer, art historian and broadcaster. His recent books includeSandra Blow (2005), The St Ives Artists: A Biography of Place and Time (2008) and Bryan Wynter (2010). He has published many essays and articles on modern and contemporary art and lectures widely. He is currently Visiting Lecturer at University College Falmouth.