Art: The Whole Story

Author:  Stephen Farthing ,  Richard Cork 

Format: Hardcover | 576 pages

Dimensions: 7 x 1.7 x 9.9 inches

Publication date: May 26, 2026

Featuring more than 1,000 full color illustrations, the most accessible history of world art ever assembled.

Written by an international team of artists, art historians, and curators, this absorbing and beautiful book gives readers unparalleled insights into the world’s most iconic artworks. Now available in an updated edition, Art: The Whole Story traces the development of art period by period, with informative and highly illustrated text covering every genre, from painting and sculpture to conceptual art and performance art. Cultural timelines are included as well, in order to help readers place each movement in its historical context.

Masterpieces that epitomize each period or movement are highlighted and analyzed in detail. Everything from use of color and visual metaphors to technical innovations are explained, giving readers the tools to interpret the meanings of world-famous masterpieces. Highlights include Mughal miniatures; Japanese prints from the nineteenth century; the color theories behind Seurat’s remarkable La Grande Jatte; and why Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon was so shocking in its day.

1,405 color illustrations