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Ask HN: Books on better understanding art history?

6 points by x86hacker1010 ↗ HN
My partner is a scientist with a biology PhD and I’ve always been astounded by how well rounded she is in the arts and humanities because she also randomly got a graduate degree in art history.

Unfortunately, I’ve really only focused on technical things in my life outside of some fiction and want to learn more about art history and different kinds of art. I’m interested in the renaissance era, but also overviews of art through history.

I’m preferably looking for a light intro for a beginner and not a dense textbook

2 comments

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dtagames
I know you specifically disavowed a textbook, but you might consider Gardner's Art Through the Ages. It's a standard text for college with great photographs. You can find any person or style you hear mentioned and see what is being talked about. It's not a book you'd read through, but a reference you might like on your shelf. :-)