“Modern Art. A History from Impressionism to Today offers a concise and precise overview of the artistic change that begins in Paris in the 1870s and extends to the present. The book gathers 200 fundamental works —paintings, sculptures, photographs, and conceptual pieces— with detailed descriptions and context to understand their impact.

The journey places the Impressionists as a turning point and follows the expansion of the avant-gardes: Symbolism and Expressionism as languages of the interior; Futurism and Dadaism as rupture; Abstraction and Surrealism as new systems of signs; and the second half of the century with Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism and Conceptual Art.

With timelines and key definitions, the work shows how artists and movements challenged the canons, changed the relationship with the viewer, and paved the way for current practices. A reference guide for students, professionals, and art lovers seeking reliable guidance, comparative chronology, and a curated selection of works that explain the evolution of modern art.

About the editor

Hans Werner Holzwarth is a book designer and editor of numerous publications, mainly on contemporary art and photography. For TASCHEN he has conceived Collector’s Edition monographs dedicated to artists such as Jeff Koons, Christopher Wool, Albert Oehlen, and Ai Weiwei; as well as the SUMO David Hockney. A Bigger Book and the XXL monograph of Jean-Michel Basquiat.