num_pages: 1000
description: For 1000s of art lovers both amateur &amp; professional esthetic life began with Janson as his History of Art is often called. In the 1st edition published in 1962 he spoke to that perennial reader he gently called the troubled layman. His opening paragraph revealed his sympathy: Why is this supposed to be art? he quoted rhetorically. How often have we heard this question asked--or asked it ourselves perhaps--in front of one of the strange disquieting works that we are likely to find nowadays in the museum or art exhibition? Keeping that curious questioning perspective in mind he wrote a history of art from cave painting to Picasso that was singularly welcoming illuminating &amp; exciting. Sojourning thru this book a reader is offered every amenity for a comfortable trip. Because he never assumes knowledge on the part of the reader a recent immigrant from Mars could comprehend Western art from this text. The only assumption the Jansons have made is that with a little guidance everyone can come to understand the artifacts that centuries of architecture sculpture design &amp; painting have deposited in our paths. Countless readers have proven the Jansons right &amp; found their lives enriched in the process.
language: English
title: History of Art
publisher: Thames and Hudson