Exploring world art

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 7 Up-This interesting and attractive title looks at the connections between humankind's "worries, hopes, fears, and plans" throughout history and the art/art objects that sprang from them. Arranged into five broad sections ("Time and Space," "Other Worlds," "Daily Life," "History and Myth," and "World of Nature"), each artifact is accompanied by a full-color photograph or reproduction. Belloli describes how such objects as an Aztec calendar stone, a Dutch still-life painting, or an Egyptian coffin were made, their meaning and purpose within their culture, and gives other historical and background information. Among the formats introduced are portraits, sculptures, paintings, maps, calendars, masks, quilts, and rock forms. When a pattern evolves, Belloli explains how it came to be. Carvings on objects, stone forms, and other interesting markings are explained as well. Various works of fine art from the masters are discussed when applicable. The text surrounds the artwork without creating a busy format; the layout is visually attractive. A double-paged map pinpoints the places of origin for the various objects and a time line shows when they were developed. A worthwhile addition for browsers and report writers.-Linda Zoppa, South Bronx High School, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Gr. 7 and up. From prehistoric Patagonian rock art to a 1980's aboriginal dreaming picture, this tour of world art introduces a remarkable variety of media and images. Broadly organized by such themes as "Daily Life" and "History and Myth," each of the five sections presents six to seven works of art. Every entry features a large, clear photograph of the artifact, accompanied by a smaller one magnifying a segment; all the pictures have informative captions. A concise narrative furnishes important background information while pointing out what the art reveals about the culture. Boxed paragraphs add supplementary facts. As the text notes, occasionally only part of a painting is reproduced, but unfortunately, no dimensions are provided. Unlike many Eurocentric art studies, this includes art from nearly every continent. A map, time line, and glossary add accessibility. An enlightening introduction to art appreciation. --Linda Perkins

Horn Book Review

Grouped into five thematic sections (Time and Space, Other Worlds, Daily Life), works of art from various cultures throughout history are briefly discussed in terms of their cultural and historical significance. The detailed photo captions and sidebars of additional information occasionally seem incomplete or confusing. A world map and time line help fill out the big picture. Glos., ind. From HORN BOOK Spring 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.