Name: The Honest Art Dictionary
ISBN: 9780711248823

The Art History Babes

The Honest Art Dictionary is an informative and entertaining dictionary of over 300 art terms - from the peculiar to the pretentious. Authoritative and informative, humorous and informal, the book will act as a valuable primer for those getting to grips with the art world.

A Jovial Trip Through Art Jargon

The Honest Art Dictionary

Erin 

So. Much. Fun. I fell in love with art history five years ago in your basic Introduction to Art History course at university. Little did I know, that when my professor spoke of Newgrange and then Neoimpressionism I would find a sector of history to love so passionately. It became my minor and I spent hours researching and reading about art for my own enjoyment. Reading this book brings me back to those moments early on in my degree when I was just an over-eager undergrad wanting to take in everything presented to me. I'll admit first off that I don't really listen to the Art History Babes podcast (or podcasts in general), but their enthusiasm and passion for art history is something I can relate to immensely, as well as the intense desire to share it with as many people as possible (often much to their chagrin), and prove just how cool art and its history can be. 

While this is a dictionary, by no means is it the boring type often avoided, with dry entries and definitions upon definitions upon definitions (sorry Oxford English, I love you anyway). Of course it still functions as a dictionary, but it is much more fun. Reading about art by the Art History Babes is like being read to by your cool best friend, or a sophisticated yet edgy older sister who tells you all the hot goss happening in the high school hallways. She holds nothing back and you're left feeling giddy like you have a secret. I think chiaroscuro and fresco are fascinating already, but they make it fascinating for everybody. It's not just Old Masters and Pointillism that get defined, either - things like zine, yarn bomb, and meme all have entries as well. I especially like the illustrations in which they combine various entries into stylistic images that are fun and modern, but still get the point across. Mix things like diptychs and Romanesque with only the coolest pop culture references, and you'll get a dictionary way more rad than Johann Joachim Winckelmann could ever dream of. They aren't afraid to call out art and art history's racist, sexist, classist colonial past, and we love. them. for. it. This is cool. Art is cool. I am OBSESSED with this book and want it for my coffee table immediately. 

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Honest Art Dictionary A Jovial Trip Through Art Jargon

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