cover image Picture This Century

Picture This Century

Felicity Woolf, Felicity Wolf. Doubleday Books for Young Readers, $16 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-385-30852-6

Teaching youngsters to look critically at modern art in all its variety is the ambition underlying Woolf's survey of 30 works of painting and sculpture. The century's major trends, from cubism and abstract expressionism to environmental and conceptual art, are covered in a series of short chapters that frequently concentrate on specific subjects such as war or feminism. The author also suggests possible inspirations for these artists--placing paintings in a historical context thus adds to their appeal and accessibility. The excellent choice of artists ranges from Picasso, Matisse, Miro and Kandinsky of the old schools to Joseph Beuys, Nam June Paik, Barbara Kruger and Christo of the new. Art by women is found both in the general sections and in a chapter on feminist art. Unfortunately, Woolf's text sometimes loses its focus amid the flood of ideas being presented; moreover, the otherwise excellent reproductions are occasionally too small and close-set for pleasurable viewing. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)