MODERN ART

From the Art and Artists series. In this historical survey of the major developments of the last hundred years in contemporary art, Ridley concentrates on identifying significant trends: Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Dada, De Stijl, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, etc. It's a lot to undertake in such a slim volume, but Ridley admirably explains the dominant social influences of each period, what artists were painting and sculpting, and why the work was new. Another title in the series, Judy Martin's Impressionism (ISBN 1-56847-355-9), begins with the origins in the Barbizon School painters and ends with Post Impressionism. Martin concentrates on French artists, from Courbet through Manet, Monet, Seurat, and Gaugin, giving brief mention of American Mary Cassatt, and a quick chapter to ``Impressionism Abroad'' (meaning in places other than France). There are several other books on this subject but the coherent, clearly written overviews in both books make them helpful additions to the field. Their strengths are putting artists and art movements in a larger context rather than investigating individuals; they are especially advantageous when used in conjunction with other texts. (full-color reproductions, glossary, bibliography, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 11-15)