ArtCurious
Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History
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3.9 • 9 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A wildly entertaining and surprisingly educational dive into art history as you've never seen it before, from the host of the beloved ArtCurious podcast
We're all familiar with the works of Claude Monet, thanks in no small part to the ubiquitous reproductions of his water lilies on umbrellas, handbags, scarves, and dorm-room posters. But did you also know that Monet and his cohort were trailblazing rebels whose works were originally deemed unbelievably ugly and vulgar? And while you probably know the tale of Vincent van Gogh's suicide, you may not be aware that there's pretty compelling evidence that the artist didn't die by his own hand but was accidentally killed--or even murdered. Or how about the fact that one of Andy Warhol's most enduring legacies involves Caroline Kennedy's moldy birthday cake and a collection of toenail clippings?
ArtCurious is a colorful look at the world of art history, revealing some of the strangest, funniest, and most fascinating stories behind the world's great artists and masterpieces. Through these and other incredible, weird, and wonderful tales, ArtCurious presents an engaging look at why art history is, and continues to be, a riveting and relevant world to explore.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Curator and ArtCurious podcaster Dasal reveals in this entertaining survey the weird, wacky, and unbelievable backstories of some of the world's greatest artists and most famous works of art. Evolving out of her podcast, the book delivers on its promise to "share fascinating narratives of art, artists, and how our world has been affected by them in strange, unexpected ways." Revealing the often scandalous side of art, Dasal describes the moxie and rule-breaking of Claude Monet (1840 1926) and the Impressionists, who turned the art world on its head simply by painting outdoors; and how the CIA employed Abstract Expressionism to covertly advance American ideals during the Cold War. She also considers whether British painter Walter Sickert (1860 1942) was actually the notorious killer Jack the Ripper; documents how illustrator Norman Rockwell created some of the most indelible images of the civil rights era (as in his 1965 painting Murder in Mississippi); examines various forgeries of the Mona Lisa; explains how artists, such as Leonardo in 1510s Milan, obtained corpses through doctors for anatomical studies; and investigates whether a German Baroness actually conceived Marcel Duchamp's 1917 Fountain masterpiece. Both art aficionados and novices will find something to appreciate in this offbeat and informative outing.
