The Modern Age (between 1900 and the outbreak of World War 1) was a time of unrivalled artistic experimentation as the questioning and rejection of long-standing ideas of previous ages were intensified with a succession of innovative styles and movements. We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

During these periods, Art was naturalistic and had a distinct purpose, often for burials, spirituality, fertility rites, ritual sacrifice (the Aztecs) and celebrating the great deeds of a God, King or a ruler. It was often used to highlight the beauty of the physical body as well.

German Expressionism - Expressionism was characterised by strong, unnaturalistic, simplified, distorted forms and sometimes, violent colours. Emphasis given to the subjective feeling rather than objective observation. Exaggerated emotional effects with expressions of fear, anxiety and alienation of love and spirituality. True to the idea of the entire series "Big ideas simply explained", The Art Book has a modern, informative layout which appeals to a new generation of learners. Artists in the 15th and 16th centuries were fascinated with depicting seasonal landscapes, finding inspiration in changing colours and moods, and in the notion of the passing of time. With years of art and design writing experience, Creative Bloq and our contributors have read, reviewed and ranked many of the best art books on the market. We’ve compiled all that knowledge into one place (right here!) and have found the best recommendations to help you become a better artist, from old classics to recent publications.

The Art Book is a captivating introduction to painting, drawing, printing, sculpture, conceptual art, and performance art - from ancient history to the modern day - aimed at adults with an interest in the subject and students wanting to gain more of an overview. Here you'll discover more than 80 of the world's most groundbreaking artworks by history's most influential painters, sculptors and artists, through exciting text and bold graphics.Abstract Art - the notion behind abstract art (that colours and forms have qualities independent of subject matter) existed since ancient times. Genuine abstract art that does not represent recognisable scenes or objects but consists of forms, shapes and colours depicted for their own sake is a modern phenomenon. I was eager to read this because of my interest in art history, and its seemingly lively style of presenting information. If you're looking for something along the lines of "fun facts about art", this would cut it - it's educational and simple enough to read due to its infographic-style layout, illustrations and explanations. Romanticism encompassed restless violence (following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte), exoticism and serene spirituality. It championed the cause of individual freedom and encouraged independent thought and questioning of authority. Focus was on artificial subjects of myth, allegory and history along with idealised figures and grandiose poses.

Rebecca West's iconic quotation speaks to her belief of art transforming our human existence into something that is meaningful. In our lives we are inundated with materialism and simply surviving ("being"). This period was classified by landscape paintings, portraits, sculptures and frescoes that not only glorified religious figures, but also depicted kings, queens, nobility and common folk. Series of satirical (criticising the government) and industrial (celebrating progress) pieces also emerged. This is the only book I've read in the last couple of months. I've been in a horrible reading slump lately but somehow, I felt oddly motivated to get through this book cover to cover. Timelines, biographies, references, illustrations, explanations of context and iconography - for people who have no previous knowledge of art history, this volume delivers a clear and interesting overview of art from the beginnings in cave painting to the performance art of recent times. For regular museum visitors, it offers an overview of art in various contexts and functions, adding a portfolio of the most important masterpieces of each period. Artists in this period used bright, bold colours. Stained Glass art is a feature of this period, it explores light in Gothic architectureHowever, for someone who wants a clear and concise understanding of art, the information presented here is simply too messy and disjointed. It was organised chronologically, but instead of giving a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of the different art movements, it offered snippets and analyses of specific artworks, so some things were not covered in-depth or sufficiently placed in context. I'll continue my hunt for a good art history book; until then, I unfortunately wouldn't recommend this.

Photography emerged as a new art form. Aestheticism was an art movement (Art for art's sake) that evolved in the second half of the 19th century. The Femme fatale was a favourite theme of Symbolist painters. For students who are unfamiliar with composition, design and colour distribution in a painting and sculpture, the colour-coded and labelled analysis of individual artworks is immensely helpful - highlighting the artist's emphasis on certain colours and lines to give the piece a specific meaning. In Medieval periods, Art had become a medium for expressing religiosity and the human body in a more spiritual manner. In Europe, churches were embellished with paintings, altar pieces and frescoes. Outside Europe, Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist art rose to prominence.

The author of The Hare with Amber Eyes, who is also a ceramic artist, tells us about books that have influenced both his careers, from the life of a celebrated potter to a collection of Japanese haiku Fauvism and Cubism - developed in Paris. Fauvism is characterised by brilliant colours, simplified forms and bold execution. Cubism is the most radical of avant-garde art. The artists portray the world as it was known, rather than as it was seen. Shown from different viewpoints, solid objects were fragmented and rearranged so that they were often unrecognisable. Prehistoric Art consisted mostly of cave paintings and crude sculptures with exaggerated features. The purpose of the Art was mainly for rituals regarding hunting and burial. Despite the limited pallets, artists were creative, drawing animals on bumpy cave-walls to give them a three dimensional feel and painting them in several, lifelike colours. In the context of the visual arts, the Renaissance is a period of rediscovery of the art of ancient Rome and Greece. The oil paint medium was widely used.There was a lot of competition (competitive focus between artists) in this era.