40 Art Masterclasses

===Yale University Press's renowned "Little History" series===
Guided by Britain's most captivating art critic,
With cinematic immediacy,
Journey through 100,000 years of human artistic creation

Stories instead of jargon ✕ Recreating the creative process ✕ 21st-century diverse perspectives
＝A soulful, vibrant, and approachable history of art


【Follow the expert, travel through time, and get closer to art】
◎ Concise and essential introductory book
Condenses the long development of art into 40 themes, offering a quick tour of representative artists and works, with a brisk pace and high knowledge content.
◎ Story-driven narrative, jargon-free explanations
Focuses on artists' creative stories, replacing professional jargon with lively and interesting details, making it easily understandable for readers with no prior knowledge.
◎ Themed, curated tours
Approaches art from different perspectives, covering its relationship with life and death, love and desire, emotions, power, war, and freedom, comprehensively outlining the multifaceted nature of art.
◎ Diverse interpretations for a new era
Includes art created by women and minority groups, embracing inclusivity and breaking the limitations of Western male-centric narratives, offering fresh perspectives.
◎ Emphasizes the overall context
Highlights the role of artistic phenomena in history, strengthening the connection between art and life.
◎ Scan QR codes for instant viewing
Features QR codes for over 100 selected works, allowing readers to view them alongside textual descriptions, zoom in for details, and some even offer 3D images or audio-visual guides, bringing art closer.
◎ Imagery to spark imagination
40 themes are accompanied by 40 exquisite woodcut prints, echoing the core content of each chapter and guiding the reader's imagination.


【Through the story of art, re-acquaint ourselves with the world】
◎ What were prehistoric people thinking 33,000 years ago, looking at paintings in caves with torches?
◎ Why do kings, popes, and modern wealthy individuals all enjoy collecting art?
◎ Is the pinnacle of painting lifelike realism? Or do people prefer dramatic exaggeration?
◎ Are works not mentioned in historical records not considered good art?
◎ How do art and artists influence the world? And how do they shape human lives?
Mullins invites you on a 100,000-year journey, starting from the world's oldest artistic relics and ending with 21st-century pop diva Beyoncé's music video "Apeshit" filmed at the Louvre.


【What have we learned about art? And what have we missed?】
◎ Was Michelangelo "framed" into painting the Sistine Chapel?
At the time, an architect deliberately interrupted his work on the Pope's tomb, making him paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Why?
◎ Leonardo da Vinci never delivered the Mona Lisa to its patron?
Da Vinci kept this painting with him until the day he died. What was the reason?
◎ Did 14th-century artists rely on teams to handle large commissions?
Giotto is an example. He had many team members; he designed the original drafts which assistants then painted, and before the work was finished, he would return to add the final small details.
◎ Who are the overlooked figures in traditional art history? And what controversial events have occurred?
The artists featured in this book are not limited to household names; some remain unknown to this day; some were famous in their lifetime but later forgotten; and some, despite their talent, are little known. The book also mentions female, Black, Asian, and other minority artists often overlooked in traditional art history, expanding the scope of art history.
Beyond the brilliance and beauty of art, Mullins does not shy away from the thefts, deceptions, and controversies that have occurred throughout art history. She believes that art is not exclusively for the elite and does not require fancy words to describe it. Let her show you how splendid, moving, and captivating art can be.