The Annotated Mona Lisa, Third Edition: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to the Present - Paperback

by Carol Strickland (Author)

This richly illustrated guide offers an engaging, accessible "crash course" in art history, guiding you through more than 25,000 years of visual culture... without the jargon and dry lectures.

With more than 300 photographs, page-length essays, and instructive sidebars, The Annotated Mona Lisa takes you from Stonehenge to street art, from cave paintings to digital installations. Designed to demystify movements, contextualize style, and reveal the stories behind some of the world's most compelling works of art, this third edition expands coverage with new chapters on recent artists and developments.

Whether you are sketching your first still life, leading an art class, or simply curious to understand why certain works move us, this book makes art history inviting and usable. As a reference, a conversation-starter, or a creative companion, it bridges scholarship and inspiration--perfect for learners of all levels.

Author Biography

Carol Strickland has written six books on art, architecture and literature, including The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to the Present. This popular introduction to art history is now in its 3rd, updated edition. Her two enhanced eBooks, released by Erudition Digital, are Impressionism: A Legacy of Light and The Eagle and the Swan, a historical novel portraying the life of Empress Theodora in sixth-century Constantinople. Strickland has a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and, as a cultural journalist, has contributed feature stories to The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Art in America, and MOMUS. She writes a monthly column on art and politics for www.clydefitchreport.com.