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Color Our World: Artists, Collectors, and Curators

When you think of art, what do you think about? Most likely famous artists, their artworks, or different types of art. But the art world is not just about artists but also famous collectors and influential art museum curators. We've put together a list of books about famous visual artists (mainly sculptors, painters, photographers) and collectors and curators that influenced the art world. These books can be found available on BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download, a download service from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled provided to all Kansas Talking Books patrons to access the collection any time, anywhere. Take it on the go with you as you travel this summer and listen in the car or wherever life takes you with BARD Mobile. Search, download and listen directly on your Mobile device or use BARD Express to download and listening using the built in player. To find out more, please visit the Kansas Talking Books' BARD Resources webpage, the NLS BARD website, or contact our office at 1-800-362-0699 or KTB@ks.gov. DB 14315 A concise history of modern sculpture by Herbert Read A chronological survey of modern sculptors and their work, beginning with Rodin.DB 83037 Listening to stone: the art and life of Isamu Noguchi by Hayden Herrera Author of Frida (DB 55556) profiles Japanese-American sculptor and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988). Describes the influence of his dual heritage and childhood in Japan on the development of his art, his family and personal relationships, and his major works of art and architecture. 2015DB 24362 Giacometti, a biography by James Lord The author, who turned a chance encounter with the great sculptor in 1952 into a lifelong obsession, here gives the story of a life lived purely for art. Included are many side-biographies of the great cultural figures with whom Giacometti shared his life--Sartre, Genet, Picasso, and Samuel Beckett.DB 32636 Louise Nevelson: a passionate life by Laurie Lisle Biography of an unconventional American sculptor, born in Russia just prior to the turn of the twentieth century. When she was five, she and her family emigrated to the U. S., settling in Maine, where as Jews and foreigners, they were ostracized. The author describes Nevelson's beauty and flamboyance, the power she brought to her work, and her struggle to enter the male-dominated world of art. Some strong language.DB 107129 The radical potter: the life and times of Josiah Wedgwood by Tristram Hunt The director of the Victoria & Albert Museum presents a biography of one of the world's most famous makers of ceramics. The author draws from an array of letters, journals, and historical documents to illuminate the achievements of Wedgwood as a potter, entrepreneur, and abolitionist. 2021.DB 89588 Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson Author of Steve Jobs (DB 73682) chronicles the life of the iconic Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Examines his early life in Vinci, artistic pursuits, patronage from leading Italian Renaissance families, engineering projects, investigations into human anatomy, and more. 2017.DB 15919 The world of Durer, 1471-1528 by Francis Russell Examines the German artist's achievement in oils, watercolors, drawings, woodcuts, paintings, and engravings.DB 79812 Michelangelo: a life in six masterpieces by Miles J. Unger Journalist examines the life of Renaissance Italian artist Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564) through the lens of six of his works: the PietaÌ, his statue of David, the Creation of Adam ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel, the Medici tombs, The Last Judgment, and the Basilica of St. Peter's in Rome. 2014.DB 14957 The world of Bruegel, c. 1525-1569 by Timothy Foote Biography of the Flemish painter who excelled in portraying the common man in art and in the contemporary life of Northern Europe. 1968.DB 49716 Caravaggio: a passionate life by Desmond Seward Biography of the Italian painter Michelangelo da Caravaggio, born in 1571. Explores what is known about his life; investigates his world, his acclaim as an artist, the fatal duel that made him an outlaw, and his untimely death in 1610. Presents a portrait of a tortured soul.DB 14790 The world of Rembrandt, 1606-1669 by Robert Wallace Surveys the life and works of the Dutch artist and corrects some of the myths about him. First published 1968.DB 53408 Vermeer: a view of Delft by Anthony Bailey A portrait of the seventeenth-century Dutch artist and the society in which he lived. Augments biographical facts with educated supposition. Includes historical and cultural information about Delft and some of its important citizens. Discusses Vermeer's paintings and their lasting contribution to the arts. 2001.DB 58883 Goya by Robert Hughes Interpretive biography of Spanish artist Francisco Goya (1746-1828) by Time magazine art critic and author of Culture of Complaint (DB 36854). Chronicles Goya's development as a man and artist, offering critical analyses of his work, social milieu, professional influences, and dominant events like the Inquisition. 2003.DB 86025 Turner: the extraordinary life and momentous times of J. M. W. Turner by Franny Moyle An account of the life of J. M. W. Turner, one of Britain's most famous landscape painters. Discusses the committal of his mother to an insane asylum, the personal sacrifices he made for his career, and the odd double life he led in the last years of his life. Commercial audiobook. 2016.DB 12774 The world of Delacroix, 1798-1863 by Tom Prideaux Reveals the paradoxical personality of the talented French artist and interprets his art.DB 101244 The private lives of the impressionists by Sue Roe Examination of the group of French artists known as the Impressionists who gathered together between 1860 and 1886. Artists profiled include Camille Pissarro, Berthe Morisot, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and Auguste Renoir. Discusses their relationships with each other and attempts to be accepted by the Parisian art establishment. Some violence. 2006.DB 118345 The grand affair: John Singer Sargent in his world by Paul Fisher "A great American artist, John Singer Sargent is an abiding enigma. He scandalized viewers with the frankness and sensuality of his work, while dressing like a businessman and crafting a highly respectable persona. He charmed the possessors of new money and old, while reserving his greatest sympathies for Bedouins, Spanish dancers, and the gondoliers of Venice. At the height of his renown in Britain and America, he quit his lucrative portrait-painting career to concentrate on allegorical murals with religious themes-and on nude drawings of male models that he kept to himself. In The Grand Affair, scholar Paul Fisher offers a vivid life of the artist and his work. Sargent's nervy, edgy portraits exposed illicit or dark feelings in himself and his sitters-feelings that London, Paris, and New York high society was fascinated by yet kept at bay. Fisher traces Singer's life from his wandering trans-European childhood to the salons of Paris, and the scandals and enthusiasms he elicited, and on to London, where he mixed with other aristocrats and eccentrics, and formed a close relationship with a boxer who became his model, valet, and traveling partner. Relating Sargent's restless itinerary, Fisher explores the enigmas of fin de siecle sexuality and art, fashioning a biography that grants the man and his paintings new and intense life." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 74364 Van Gogh: the life by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith Biography of Dutch artist van Gogh (1853-1890) by the Pulitzer Prize-winning authors of Jackson Pollock (DB 33540). They use primary documents from the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam to analyze his family life, work, and death at age thirty-seven--and raise doubts that van Gogh killed himself. 2011.DB 41024 Toulouse-Lautrec: a life by Julia Frey Portrait of the French painter best known for his posters of cabaret performers. Drawing on family letters, the author focuses on the artist's aristocratic heritage, his mentally ill father and pious mother, his chronic illness and physical deformity, his alcoholism, and his untimely death at age thirty-six. Frey also speculates on probable artistic influences, including Degas, Japanese prints, and the art nouveau movement.DB 125496 Mondrian: his life, his art, his quest for the absolute by Nicholas Fox Weber "The extraordinary and surprising life of Piet Mondrian, whose unprecedented geometric art revolutionized modern painting, architecture, graphic art, dress design, and much more"-- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 10054 Chagall by Jean Paul Crespelle A colorful account of the life and work of the celebrated Russian-born Jewish artist whose joyous and creative talents have influenced the development of 20th-century art.DB 110062 Ninth Street women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler: five painters and movement that changed modern art by Mary Gabriel "Set amid the most turbulent social and political period of modern times, Ninth Street Women is the impassioned, wild, sometimes tragic, always exhilarating chronicle of five women who dared to enter the male-dominated world of twentieth-century abstract painting--not as muses but as artists. From their cold-water lofts, where they worked, drank, fought, and loved, these pioneers burst open the door to the art world for themselves and countless others to come. Gutsy and indomitable, Lee Krasner was a hell-raising leader among artists long before she became part of the modern art world's first celebrity couple by marrying Jackson Pollock. Elaine de Kooning, whose brilliant mind and peerless charm made her the emotional center of the New York School, used her work and words to build a bridge between the avant-garde and a public that scorned abstract art as a hoax. Grace Hartigan fearlessly abandoned life as a New Jersey housewife and mother to achieve stardom as one of the boldest painters of her generation. Joan Mitchell, whose notoriously tough exterior shielded a vulnerable artist within, escaped a privileged but emotionally damaging Chicago childhood to translate her fierce vision into magnificent canvases. And Helen Frankenthaler, the beautiful daughter of a prominent New York family, chose the difficult path of the creative life. Her gamble paid off: At twenty-three she created a work so original it launched a new school of painting. These women changed American art and society, tearing up the prevailing social code and replacing it with a doctrine of liberation. In Ninth Street Women, acclaimed author Mary Gabriel tells a remarkable and inspiring story of the power of art and artists in shaping not just postwar America but the future." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 31323 Georgia O'Keefe: a life by Roxana Robinson Georgia O'Keeffe struggled most of her ninety-eight years to capture the radiance of light, with paint on canvas. Robinson, an art historian, describes O'Keeffe's early years in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; her career as an art teacher; her relationship with photographer Alfred Stieglitz, first as protege, then as model and lover, and later as his wife; and her final years with a much younger companion, Juan Hamilton.DB 50710 Lives of the great 20th-century artists by Edward Lucie-Smith Biographical sketches of 100 deceased artists, presented roughly in chronological order, grouped by movement or nationality. Begins with Edvard Munch and major European trends--cubism, dada, and the Bauhaus. Proceeds to North Americans such as Diego Rivera and Edward Hopper, abstract expressionists, pop artists, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. 1999.DB 33760 Matisse and Picasso: a friendship in art by Francoise Gilot Picasso's mistress from the end of World War II until 1954, the year of Matisse's death, provides biographical information about the artists and describes their close personal relationship. An artist herself, Gilot reveals her role as a catalyst in this complicated trio, focusing on the friendly rivalry between the two men, with particular emphasis on the work they produced during this period. 1990.DB 49684 Dreaming with his eyes open: a life of Diego Rivera by Patrick Marnham Biography of the early twentieth-century Mexican muralist. Describes his friendship with Picasso in Paris, his Communist leanings, and his series of love affairs including his tumultuous relationship with Frida Kahlo. Discusses his devotion to his art and his tendency to embellish his past. 1998.DB 101615 Frida in America: the creative awakening of a great artist by Celia Stahr Art historian examines the work and life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo while she lived in America with new husband and fellow artist Diego Rivera. Discusses the influence of living in the place Kahlo called "Gringolandia" on her sense of Mexican identity and subsequent work. 2020.DB 95666 Almost nothing: the 20th-century art and life of Józef Czapski by Eric Karpeles Biography of Polish painter Józef Czapski (1896-1993), best known for his work in the Kapist art movement and for being one of the few survivors of the Katyn massacre of 1940. Describes his early years and artistic influences, his experiences during World War II, and his lasting impact. Some violence. 2018.DB 76264 Banksy: the man behind the wall by Will Ellsworth Jones Biography of the graffiti artist known as Banksy details his early work in Bristol, England; the success of his Oscar-nominated film Exit through the Gift Shop; and his efforts to maintain his anonymity. Explores the culture of outsider art and Banksy's place in it. Young adult appeal. 2012.DB 120468 Radiant: the life and line of Keith Haring by Brad Gooch "A stunning life of the iconic American artist, Keith Haring, by the acclaimed biographer Brad Gooch. In the 1980s, the subways of New York City were covered with art. In the stations, black matte sheets were pasted over outdated ads, and unsigned chalk drawings often popped up on these blank spaces. These temporary chalk drawings numbered in the thousands and became synonymous with a city as diverse as it was at war with itself, ravaged by poverty and oppression but alive with art and creative energy. And every single one of these drawings was done by Keith Haring. Keith Haring was one of the most emblematic artists of the 1980s, a figure described by his contemporaries as "a prophet in his life, his person, and his work." Part of an iconic cultural crowd that included Andy Warhol, Madonna, and Basquiat, Haring broke down the barriers between high art and popular culture, creating work that was accessible for all and using it as a means to provoke and inspire radical social change. Haring died of AIDS in 1990. To this day, his influence on our culture remains incontrovertible, and his glamorous, tragically short life has a unique aura of mystery and power. Brad Gooch, noted biographer of Flannery O'Connor and Frank O'Hara, was granted access to Haring's extensive archive. He has written a biography that will become the authoritative work on the artist. Based on interviews with those who knew Haring best and drawing from the rich archival history, Brad Gooch sets out to capture the magic of Keith Haring: a visionary and timeless icon"-- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 93710 Broad strokes: 15 women who made art and made history (in that order) by Bridget Quinn Feminist art historian profiles women artists from the seventeenth to twenty-first centuries. Subjects include Artemisia Gentileschi, Rosa Bonheur, Vanessa Bell, Lee Krasner, Kara Walker, and Susan O'Malley. Provides an overview of the world they grew up in and their development as artists. Strong language, some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2017.DB 91210 Berenice Abbott: a life in photography by Julia Van Haaften Biography of photographer Berenice Abbott (1898-1991). Discusses her early life in Ohio with a fractured family, developing interest in photography, work in the United States and Europe, personal relationships, involvement in socialist causes, and more. Strong language. 2018.DB 90167 Vivian Muir: a photographer's life and afterlife by Pamela Bannos Examination of the life of a photographer who supported herself as a nanny and whose work only came to broad recognition after her death. Chronicles Maier's years growing up in France, return to America, and eventual life in Chicago. Discusses the disposition of the storage lockers which housed her photography. 2017.DB 20363 Stieglitz: a memoir/biography by Sue Davidson Lowe Portrait of the celebrated photographer and modern art impressario by his grandniece, who draws on her own recollections and those of his friends, relatives, and colleagues. Among the avant-garde artists he helped launch were Picasso, Rousseau, Brancusi, Marin, Hartley, Dove, and wife Georgia O'Keefe.DB 53639 Brunelleschi's dome: how a Renaissance genius reinvented architecture by Ross King Discusses the intermittent construction during the 1300s of a cathedral in Florence that would require the largest dome in the world. Explains how this led to the 1418 competition for solving the architectural puzzle; how it was won by Filippo Brunelleschi, a clockmaker; and how he achieved engineering marvels. 2000. 2000.DB 54671 Art lover: a biography of Peggy Guggenheim by Anton Gill Portrait of an influential collector of modern art. Discusses the New York socialite's promiscuous and scandalous private life, her years in Europe among artists and intellectuals, and her promotion of abstract painters such as Jackson Pollock. 2002.DBC02722 Unstill life: a daughter's memoir of art and love in the age of abstraction by Gabrielle Selz Gabrielle Selz's father, chief curator of painting and sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art was known to the world as Mr. Modern Art. Leaving her to grew up in a home full of the most celebrated artists of the day. Like the art he loved, he was vibrant and freewheeling, but his enthusiasm for both women and art took its toll on family life. When he left MoMA and his family to direct his own museum in California, marrying four more times, Selz's mother, moved the family into a Utopian artist community. Unrated....

Color Our World: Movements in Art History

Art has been around for thousands of years, but it hasn't stayed the same. Just as cultures and societies have evolved over time, art too has evolved. Phases in the development of artistic traditions, styles, characteristics, and techniques define what we call art periods or art movements. These movements may last several years to hundreds of years.Find out more about these art periods with books from our collection. We’ve tried to present these books as a timeline of art movements through history, though not all periods are represented. DB 85857 Ancient Egyptian art and architecture: a very short introduction by Christina RiggsPresents the art of objects and structures produced in Egypt over a 3,500-year period. Examines art and architecture to highlight the complexity, misconceptions, and Eurocentric biases in studying ancient Egypt's contributions. Includes museums, building construction, writing, kingship, royal and divine power, and insights into Egyptian societies. 2014.DB 86460 Classics: a very short introduction by Mary BeardHighlights the continued relevance of the ancient world's legacy, focusing on Greeks and Romans and the effect of the Roman Empire's conquest. Explains studying classics as bridging the two-thousand-year gap that separates us when viewing artifacts and reading literature and philosophy. Reviews famous expeditions and art objects. 1995.DB 35941 A world lit only by fire: the medieval mind and the Renaissance: portrait of an age by William ManchesterThe author first outlines the period made chaotic by the waning authority of the Catholic Church, made turbulent by Martin Luther, made beautiful by Michelangelo, but, most importantly, made aware by Ferdinand Magellan. According to Manchester, it was Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe, when he proved the rotundity of a rotating earth, that shattered myths and ushered in a new age.DB 86633 Renaissance art: a very short introduction by Geraldine A. JohnsonLecturer in art history provides an overview of the art, artists, patrons, and viewers during this period of extraordinary cultural ferment and transformation. Examines representative works by Leonardo, Holbein, Dürer, and many lesser-known artists. Discusses the transitional function of altarpieces, and explains the special importance of Michelangelo and Vasari. 2005.DB 86637 Romanticism: a very short introduction by Michael FerberProfessor of English explores the artistic and philosophical movement that dominated literature and the arts in Europe and America throughout the nineteenth century and beyond. Seeks unifying themes among a wide range of poets, composers, and philosophers, including Byron, Wordsworth, Chopin, Wagner, Carlyle, and Kant. Considers social and political ramifications. 2010.DB 08844 The romantic rebellion: Romantic versus Classic art by Kenneth ClarkEssays on artists of the 18th and 19th centuries include Piranesi, Goya, Ingres, Blake, Delacroix, Turner, and Rodin. Mr. Clark discusses the conflicts and influences in their works.DB 56257 Nineteenth-century European art by Petra ten-Doesschate ChuArt historian Chu traces the evolution of artistic works in the context of social and cultural trends from the mid-eighteenth century up to roughly 1900. She also explores the impact of new technology on art forms, focusing mainly on painting and sculpture, and incorporates biographical sketches of individual artists. 2003.DB 48011 Impressionism: reflections and perceptions by Mayer SchapiroEssays that discuss the concept of impressionism, analyzing the artists of the movement, including Claude Monet. Explores the art's connection with science, history, and literature. Also describes the genre in relation to its subjects: the environment, railroad, city, and people.DB 125833 Paris in ruins: love, war, and the birth of Impressionism by Sebastian Smee"From the summer of 1870 to the spring of 1871, famously dubbed the "Terrible Year" by Victor Hugo, Paris and its people were besieged, starved, and forced into surrender by Germans--then imperiled again as radical republicans established a breakaway Commune, ultimately crushed by the French Army after bloody street battles and the burning of central Paris. As renowned art critic Sebastian Smee shows, it was against the backdrop of these tumultuous times that the Impressionist movement was born--in response to violence, civil war, and political intrigue. In stirring and exceptionally vivid prose, Smee tells the story of those dramatic days through the eyes of great figures of Impressionism. Édouard Manet, Berthe Morisot, and Edgar Degas were trapped in Paris during the siege and deeply enmeshed in its politics. Others, including Pierre-August Renoir and Frédéric Bazille, joined regiments outside of the capital, while Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro fled the country just in time. In the aftermath, these artists developed a newfound sense of the fragility of life. That feeling for transience--reflected in Impressionism's emphasis on fugitive light, shifting seasons, glimpsed street scenes, and the impermanence of all things--became the movement's great contribution to the history of art. At the heart of it all is a love story; that of Manet, by all accounts the father of Impressionism, and Morisot, the only woman to play a central role in the movement from the start. Smee poignantly depicts their complex relationship, their tangled effect on each other, and their great legacy, while bringing overdue attention to the woman at the heart of Impressionism."-- Publisher's description. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 85835 The avant-garde: a very short introduction by David CottingtonThe meaning and history of the avant-garde, particularly in relation to the arts. Explores why Western societies place such high value on newness and "up-to-dateness," the connection between avant-garde arts and radical politics, and the avant-garde's co-option by popular consumer culture. 2013.DB 86482 Dada and Surrealism: a very short introduction by David HopkinsHistory of the two early-twentieth-century art movements and their lasting cultural impact. Explores the work of artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Salvador Dali, the publications and public events through which they promoted their ideas, and the aesthetic differences between Dada and Surrealism. 2004.DB 86165 Modernism: a very short introduction by David CottingtonExplores innovative works of art in literature, painting, and music during a 30-year period (1909-1939) to illustrate the experimental originality that characterizes modernism. Discusses destruction of conventions of nineteenth-century realism, growth of abstraction, use of stream of consciousness, surrealism, and the subjective point of view within modern urban conditions. 2010.DB 87139 Art in America, 1945-1970: writings from the age of abstract expressionism, pop art, and minimalism by Jed PerlWritings culled from the work of critics, poets and novelists, journalists, and the artists themselves during the turbulent quarter century after the end of World War II. Among the contributors are critics Clement Greenberg and Harold Rosenberg; poets Robert Creeley and Frank O'Hara; and painters Robert Motherwell and Larry Rivers. 2014.DB 86542 Postmodernism: a very short introduction by Christopher ButlerProfessor of English language and literature explores the key ideas of postmodernists and demonstrates their engagement with theory, literature, the visual arts, film, architecture, and music. Examines postmodernism's rejection of "master narratives"--e. g., the progressive emancipation of humanity and the triumph of science--the overturning of hierarchies, and the decoupling of signs from referents. 2002.DB 86479 Contemporary art: a very short introduction by Julia StallabrassAn exploration of changes in the art world effected by world events since 1989. Discusses the globalization of art production and consumption, cost and uses, efforts to bring art and fashion closer together, competition with mass culture, art as investment, corporate sponsorship, and the growth of museums. 2004.These books can be found available on BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download, a download service from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled provided to all Kansas Talking Books patrons to access the collection any time, anywhere. Want to read books on your mobile device, use the BARD Mobile app. Enjoy the sound more on your talking books player? Download books to a flash drive with the BARD website or BARD Express desktop application and plug it into your player to read. To find out more, please visit the Kansas Talking Books' BARD Resources webpage, the NLS BARD website, or contact our office at 1-800-362-0699 or KTB@ks.gov. ...

Color Our World: Art in History

Art has existed since the dawn of man and has evolved over thousands of years. Art encompasses many different methods of creation; painting, sculpture, printmaking, and more. Learn about what art is and the history of art with this selection of books from our catalog.DB 21009 The story of art by E. H. GombrichA survey of the history of art that provides a springboard for an intelligent appreciation and understanding of painting, architecture, and sculpture. The author discusses the artists and their works within their historic context.DB 48873 The beginner's guide to art edited by Brigitte GovignonDesigned to help the reader understand and appreciate art. Covers developments in architecture, sculpture, and painting from 30,000 B.C. to 1995. Includes brief biographies of major figures in the evolution of Western forms of expression. For junior and senior high and older readers.DB 55715 History of art for young people by H.W. Janson and Anthony F. JansonProvides basic coverage of art in Europe and North America--from prehistoric to modern times--covering painting, sculpture, and architecture. Discusses concepts, events, movements, symbols, techniques, and major figures. For junior and senior high readers. 2003.DB 86452 Art theory: a very short introduction by Cynthia A. FreelandA survey of art from ancient times to the present and the ways theorists have tried to understand and explain its meaning. Topics include the roles of museums and the art market, the relevance of artists' private lives to interpretations of their work, and twenty-first-century cyber-art. 2001.DB 85688 Art history: a very short introduction by Dana ArnoldChallenges traditional histories that emphasize styles and periods. Explores writings over a broad time span, from Pliny to Pollock. Discusses iconography and symbolism, media and techniques of production, the importance of museum collections, and how key thinkers in philosophy and psychoanalysis have interacted with art history. Includes glossary. 2004.DB 54489 Art, the critics' choice: 150 masterpieces of western art selected and defined by the experts by John RussellA brief chronological history of Western art. An introductory overview of classical and early Christian art is followed by ten essays in which period specialists discuss exemplary masterworks, from the Middle Ages to the late twentieth century. Themes explored throughout include the relationships between painters and their subjects and the influence of particular works. 1999.DB 58659 The arts by Hendrik Willem van LoonA cultural survey of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theatre, and many minor arts from prehistory to the twentieth century by the author of Van Loon's Lives (DB 55071). Covers creative expression in ancient Egypt and Greece, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. Revised and updated 1974. 1937.DB 116729 The story of art without men by Katy Hessel"How many women artists do you know? Who makes art history? Did women even work as artists before the twentieth century? And what is the Baroque anyway? Guided by Katy Hessel, art historian and founder of @thegreatwomenartists, discover the glittering paintings by Sofonisba Anguissola of the Renaissance, the radical work of Harriet Powers in the nineteenth-century United States and the artist who really invented the "readymade." Explore the Dutch Golden Age, the astonishing work of postwar artists in Latin America, and the women defining art in the 2020s. Have your sense of art history overturned and your eyes opened to many artforms often ignored or dismissed. From the Cornish coast to Manhattan, Nigeria to Japan, this is the history of art as it's never been told before." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 125586 The world according to color: a cultural history by James Fox"A kaleidoscopic exploration that traverses history, literature, art, and science to reveal humans' unique and vibrant relationship with color. We have an extraordinary connection to color--we give it meanings, associations, and properties that last millennia and span cultures, continents, and languages. In The World According to Color, James Fox takes seven main colors--black, red, yellow, blue, white, purple, and green--and uncovers behind each a root idea, based on visual resemblances and common symbolism throughout history. Through a series of stories and vignettes, the book then traces these meanings to show how they morphed and multiplied and, ultimately, how they reveal a great deal about the societies that produced them: reflecting and shaping their hopes, fears, prejudices, and preoccupations. Fox also examines the science of how our eyes and brains interpret light and color, and shows how this is inherently linked with the meanings we give to hue. And using his background as an art historian, he explores many of the milestones in the history of art--from Bronze Age gold-work to Turner, Titian to Yves Klein--in a fresh way. Fox also weaves in literature, philosophy, cinema, archaeology, and art--moving from Monet to Marco Polo, early Japanese ink artists to Shakespeare and Goethe to James Bond. By creating a new history of color, Fox reveals a new story about humans and our place in the universe: second only to language, color is the greatest carrier of cultural meaning in our world" -- Provided by publisher.DB 14958 Gardner's Art through the ages by Helen Gardner; rev. by Horst de la Croix and Richard G. TanseyA survey that traces the history of western art from the Stone Age to the present. The art forms explored include painting, sculpture, and architecture.DB 125441 Artcurious: stories of the unexpected, slightly odd, and strangely wonderful in art history by Jennifer Dasal"From the host of the ArtCurious podcast, this book looks at the world of art history, revealing some of the strangest, funniest, and most fascinating stories behind the world's great artists and masterpieces. It demonstrates why art history is, and continues to be, a riveting and relevant world to explore."-- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 83821 Famous works of art - and how they got that way by John NiciArt historian identifies twenty works of art, ranging from ancient to contemporary, and explains why the pieces became famous. Includes the Great Sphinx and the Tomb of Tutankhamun from Egypt, the Elgin Marbles from Greece, the Mona Lisa from Italy, and American Gothic and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from the US. 2015DB 85582 Architecture: a very short introduction by Andrew BallantyneArchitect and professor leads tour of buildings, past and present-- landmarks, monuments, palaces, and cathedrals as well as homes and offices--to demonstrate how architecture contributes to understanding what was and is important to us. Discusses architectural history from technical, economic, political, and aesthetic perspectives. Includes glossary. 2002....

June 2025 Staff Picks

Find out what the KTB staff has been reading recently in this list of staff picks.Maggie Witte, Outreach LibrarianDB 127301 Vampires are forever: Argeneau, book 8 by Lynsay Sands "Despite her determination not to mix business with pleasure, Inez Urso is drawn to her sexy business associate, Thomas Argeneau, who seems to be allergic to the sun, has excellent night vision, and has the desire to nibble on her neck."-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 127465 Vampire, interrupted: Argeneau, book 9 by Lynsay Sands "After seven hundred years of life, Marguerite Argeneau finally has a career. Well, the start of one, anyway. She's training to be a private investigator, and her first assignment is to find an immortal's mother. It seemed simple enough, until Marguerite wakes up one evening to find herself at the wrong end of a sword. Now she realizes she's in way over her head. Julius Notte wants to protect Marguerite, and not because someone just tried to take her head off. She doesn't know it yet, but she's his lifemate and he's determined to woo her. It's been over five hundred years since he last courted a woman, but surely the techniques haven't changed. Now if only he can keep her alive--so to speak--so they can have that happily-ever-after."-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 127351 The rogue hunter: Argeneau, book 10 by Lynsay Sands "Samantha Willan is a workaholic lawyer. She's grateful for some rest and relaxation in cottage country, and after a recent breakup she wants to stay as far away from romance as possible. Then she meets her irresistible new neighbor. There's something strange and mysterious about his eyes. Is it just her imagination, or are they locked on her neck? Garrett Mortimer is a rogue hunter. His last assignment united Lucian Argeneau with his lifemate, and Mortimer is hoping this one will be less...adventurous. He's here to track down a reported rogue, but fun in the sun is every bloodsucker's nightmare. Worse, he can't seem to get his mind off Samantha, especially when he spies her skinny-dipping in the lake. After eight hundred years as a bachelor, is he ready to turn a volatile attraction into a lasting love affair?"-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 127651 The immortal hunter: Argeneau, book 11 by Lynsay Sands "When vampire Decker Argeneau saves the life of Danielle McGill, who is the target of a group of rogue vampires, he must convince the beautiful doctor that he is her immortal soulmate and destined to love her forever."-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 128056 The renegade hunter: Argeneau, book 12 by Lynsay Sands "The Argeneau family has a secret...one of their own is a rogue vampire! Nicholas Argeneau was once a successful hunter who went after rogue vampires who broke the immortal law. Except no one has mentioned his name in the last fifty years, not since he turned into a rogue himself. But once a hunter, always a hunter. When Nicholas sees a bloodthirsty sucker terrifying a woman, it's second nature for him to come to her rescue. He had no idea he would also want to kiss her senseless..."-- From publisher.DB 128092 Born to bite: Argeneau, book 13 by Lynsay Sands "Legend has it that Armand Argeneau is a killer in the bedroom... But with all three of his late wives meeting unfortunate and untimely ends, is this sexy immortal a lover or a murderer? That's what Eshe d'Aureus intends to find out. As an enforcer, it's her job to bring rogue vampires to justice, even if the rogue in question makes her blood race red hot..."-- From publisher.DB 128254 Hungry for you: Argeneau, book 14 by Lynsay Sands "As one of the most ancient in the Argeneau clan, Cale Valens has given up on finding a life mate. His friends and family, however, have not. In fact, they believe they've finally found his perfect match. Getting them together, however, requires one little white lie. Alexandra Willan is in a panic. Her restaurant is due to open in two weeks, but her chef just walked out. Then a highly recommended replacement arrives, an impossibly handsome culinary genius who sends electric tingles racing through her body... Except he can't cook. In fact, Cale hasn't eaten real food in two thousand years. Yet he's determined to prove to Alex his prowess in the kitchen...and elsewhere. Because never has he hungered so for any mortal woman. And not just for a taste of her, but for the whole delicious feast!"-- Goodreads.DB 128741 The reluctant vampire: Argeneau, book 15 by Lynsay Sands "Rogue hunter Drina Argenis (from the Spanish side of the Argeneau family) has been many things in her years as an immortal, but bodyguard/babysitter to a teenage vampire is something new. There's an incentive, however: the other vampsitter, Harper Stoyan, may be Drina's life mate. Trouble is, having just lost a life mate, Harper is resigned to being alone. He's completely unprepared when sexy and unpredictable Drina bursts into his life to reignite his passions. Can Drina, with a little matchmaking help from their teen charge, tempt this reluctant vampire to take a chance? Or will a dangerous, unseen renegade kill Drina and Harper's one chance at happiness?"-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 105442 The last Mona Lisa by Jonathan Santlofer In 1911, the Mona Lisa is stolen. More than one hundred years later, art professor Luke Perrone digs for the truth of his most famous ancestor, Vincent Peruggia, the man who stole the Mona Lisa. But Luke uncovers darker secrets. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2021.DB 78375 An officer and a spy by Robert Harris Fictionalized account of the events surrounding French officer Alfred Dreyfus's treason conviction in 1895. Georges Picquart is the newly appointed head of the counterespionage agency that accused Dreyfus, a Jew, of passing secrets to the Germans. But Picquart later finds information that changes everything. Bestseller. 2013.Dylan Calhoon, Patron Services ManagerDB 69579 The magicians, book 1 by Lev Grossman Bored with life, Quentin Coldwater spends his time reading fantasy and dreaming of the mythical realm of Fillory. But after being transported off the street to the Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, Quentin realizes that real sorcery isn't easy. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2009. Bored with life, Quentin Coldwater spends his time reading fantasy and dreaming of the mythical realm of Fillory. But after being transported off the street to the Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, Quentin realizes that real sorcery isn't easy. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2009.DB 73928 The magician king: Magicians, book 2 by Lev Grossman Quentin, from The Magicians (DB 69579), becomes bored with his cushy life in Fillory and searches for adventure. But somehow he and his friend Julia end up back on Earth and have to search for a way back to Fillory. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2011.DB 79822 The magician's land: Magicians, book 3 by Lev Grossman After the events of The Magician King (DB 73928), Quentin Coldwater, the erstwhile king of Fillory, returns to the Brakebills Preparatory College of Magic. However, when barbarians attack Fillory, Quentin begins a quest that leads back to the home of his heart. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2014.Sarah Bruemmer, Library AssistantDB 86553 Lodestar: Keeper of the lost cities, book 5 by Shannon Messenger As the ogres threaten war, Sophie isn't sure whom to trust, and she worries about the safety of her loved ones. She works to translate a symbol and piece together the clues to stop the Neverseen. Sequel to Everblaze; Neverseen (DB 83402). For grades 5-8. 2016.Michael Lang, DirectorDB 101686 Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy Nomadic Franny Stone arrives in Greenland with one goal--to trail what is possibly the final migration of the world's last Arctic terns. She talks her way onto a fishing boat, but as Franny's history is revealed, it becomes clear that there is more to her mission. Contains some descriptions of sex and strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2020....

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