What is Art?

From stone-age cave paintings to Hockney's "Fading Faxes"; from Egyptian tomb treasure to Native American carvings - this book aims to take a fresh look at work by painters, potters, carvers, sculptors and other craftspeople and asks some essential questions: what is the work for, why did the artist make it like that - for magic, for worship, celebration, to tell a story, to satisfy an inner need, or just for fun?

How did the artist earn a living, who paid the bills, what were the tools, the materials, and techniques, are there surprises and hidden meanings that become clear only when you understand the symbolic clues?

The book explores these questions to stimulate curiosity and give scope for discussion, thought and wonder as well as appreciation and creativity.

Chapters are organized thematically and illustrated with colour photographs from a wide range of periods and places.

Special features include brief biographies of famous artists and experiments with techniques.

The book is an introduction to looking at art in galleries and museums, as well as the everyday world of school, the home, and the environment.