Kim Young-sook: Western art history

Among the works we recognize as "masterpieces," there are many that were not appreciated in their time. Conversely, there are also many instances where artists amassed wealth and fame during their lifetimes only to have their names forgotten by later generations. Why are some portraits considered more important than others among countless others? Why were works that appear unremarkable today received such shocking reception at the time? To understand this, one must know the flow of art history. Appreciating art is akin to reading the social and historical context surrounding the artwork. *A Chronological History of Western Art* organizes the often-complex flow of Western art in an easy-to-understand chronological order and explains important historical events alongside them to help readers grasp the underlying background. Marking the beginning of the Hyunamsa Chronological Series, this book offers visual appeal through various illustrations alongside its timelines. Major works in Western art history are arranged across spreads with detailed explanations to allow for full appreciation of masterpieces, while significant historical events are supplemented by timelines to enable a thorough understanding of the context in which the works were created. Furthermore, the book presents a wealth of reference materials where necessary, such as maps, genealogies, portraits of key figures, and photographs of famous architecture, making it an engaging read that covers not only the artworks but also the related knowledge. By blending the characteristics of the works with historical events, this book clearly explains why only men are depicted naked in ancient Greek sculptures, why the baby Jesus in medieval icons has an awkward, adult-like face, and why still life and genre painting developed first in the Netherlands.

Korean title: 서양 미술사

Korean author: 김영숙

Korean publisher: 현암사

ISBN-13: 9788932321387