Lucid, authoritative, written with verve by two respected American scholars, this generously illustrated work provides an introduction to more than 7,000 years of Chinese art—from the pottery-making and jade-carving cultures of the Neolithic Age to contemporary Chinese artists working in video,installation, and performance media. By placing the arts in context—in active engagement with societies, economies, and wider fields of culture—the authors of this much-needed general survey introduce a dynamic and continually evolving tradition rather than a sequence of isolated museum masterpieces. Although the story of Chinese art unfolds chronologically, the authors introduce relevant themes for each era that will deepen the reader’s understanding of and appreciation for what they describe as arguably “the most abundantly productive, continuous artistic culture in the history of the world.” Telling the story of Chinese art in the context of Chinese history and culture, Thorp (history and archaeology, Washington Univ.) and Vinograd (art history, Stanford Univ.) give this handsomely illustrated book a graceful, unpretentious ease that will be rare and refreshing to readers of art history. The book draws on the insights and approaches of recent scholarship and discoveries to explore the essence of Chinese art, examining the reasons for its creation, its relationship to political and social development, its economic functions, and its connection to personal rituals. Taking in over 7000 years, from late Neolithic cultures to the 20th century, this book provides a fine introduction to Chinese art for students, historians, and art lovers. It is especially poignant in its examination of contemporary Chinese art from the vantage points of identity and community, two fundamental bases of life for the Chinese people. Highly recommended to all public and academic libraries. Lucia S. Chen, NYPL Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. ROBERT L. THORP, professor of art history and archaeology at Washington University in St. Louis, specializes in the art and archaeology of early China. RICHARD ELLIS VINOGRAD chairs the Department of Art and Art History at Stanford University. An expert on later Chinese painting, he is the recipient of numerous academic honors. He lives in Palo Alto, California. Used Book in Good Condition