Since its first appearance in 1931 Herbert Read's introduction to the understanding of art has established itself as a classic of its kind It provides a basis for the appreciation of paintings sculpture & art-objects of all periods by defining the elements that went into their making A compact survey of the world's art from primitive cave-drawings to Jackson Pollock The Meaning of Art explains the persistence of certain principles & aspirations throughout the history of art & summarizes the essence of such movements as Gothic Baroque Impressionism Expressionism & Surrealism This new Faber Modern Classics edition features a brand new foreword by Will Gompertz BBC arts editor