A History of Pictures: From the Cave to the Computer Screen

After reading A Bigger Message and Spring Cannot Be Cancelled I really wanted to read this conversational book about the history of pictures. I am not disappointed; what a great inside from one of the best ever artists of this century David Hockney and art critic Martin Gayford!

Fascinating, and the best of all worlds, a scholarly book that reads as a conversation. Years of Art School and Art History, not to mention scads of art books and monographic studies, this volume shines brightly. Great information, thoughts and insights. I found the combination of Hockney and Gayford to be brilliant, stimulating and difficult to put down.

A massive art book - David Hockney's a History of Pictures - 100's of great images in every media, interpreted/explained by a great artist

Another reusable text I will refer to many times....awfully heavy, however....need a book stand...

Hockney's book is a wonderful description of Carvaggio and others used photography in it's earliest form to deliver their master pieces. It intertwines the history of photography as it developed with the artists who used it as a tool to help paint. But what was fascinating was his clear description and pointers that allowed me to see the identifiers.Of course, after reading this one, I had to go over to the library and borrow his other book "The Secret Knowledge"... an equally fascinating read.Highly recommend it.

‘One of my ansestors was probably a cave artist,’ David Hockney says. ‘I think cave art must have been to do with someone getting a piece of chalk or something and drawing an animal. Another person sees it and perhaps gestures or reacts, meaning, ‘I’ve seen something like that!’’ (p. 25)‘The date 1839 is not a big one in conventional art history,’ Hockney says. ‘… It seems the history of art is all very comfortable until the invention of photography. … The truth is that photography is the child of painting.’ (p. 228)Hockney lead us from the cave to the computer screen. ‘Art hasn’t ended, and neither has the history of pictures,’ Hockney says. ‘People get the idea from time to time that everything is finishing. It doesn’t end at all; it just goes on and on and on.’ (p. 341)Throughout this whole book, I feel strongly that we are fortunately encouraged by David Hockney.

I saw a program on the way Vermeer used some props to paint his art....this book was referenced. So I had to have it! it tells of the tricks that can be used to improve your art work and includes a quantity of quotes from Hockney. I am enjoying this book!

I am the product of both art school studio and college art history courses and this book beats any I have seen! The conversation format between artist and critic works well--and there are illustrations of almost everything they mention. Anybody who takes photographs, paints, or uses an app on an iPad should love this book and find it changes their perspective on art!