Art Firsts

The story of art is not always the story of art-historical ‘isms’ and complex academic debate. The real history is often the story of some very simple firsts – the first time an artist painted themselves, the first time someone painted a smile, the first actual place to be depicted, the first feminist artwork, the first anti-war work.

Art evolves and revolutionises itself through these simple – but ground-breaking – creative leaps. Art Firsts brings together 30 of these pioneering firsts to piece together an original approach to looking at and appreciating art, as well as understanding where it has come from and how it relates to you. Each first is approachable and engaging, while each work is simply and satisfyingly explained. Every work is also fully illustrated, and its significance is shown through images of the subsequent artists directly inspired by them. Art Firsts offers a refreshing and fascinating narrative for those curious about why so-called ‘masterpieces’ are so important and how the story of art can be boiled down to flashes of fascinating brilliance. When was art’s first kiss? Who painted the first ever smile and the first self-portrait? Who made the first known depiction of a gay embrace, when did Western art first depict a Black subject or approach feminism? And why were each of these firsts so important? This book answers all these fascinating questions and more.

A new, simple way of looking at, appreciating and understanding where art has come from.