Introductions describing the social and cultural settings that gave rise to these artistic periods are followed by sections on specific artists, famous pieces, and the legacy of each movement. A "Place to Visit" feature describes museums. The art, beautifully reproduced on thick, glossy paper, is confusingly not always placed near the text describing it. Timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

GUNDERSON, Jessica . Impressionism . ISBN 978-1-58341-611-2 . LC 2007008493. GUNDERSON, Jessica . Realism . ISBN 978-1-58341-612-9 . LC 2007008494. GUNDERSON, Jessica . Romanticism . ISBN 978-1-58341-613-6 . LC 2007008495. ea vol: 48p. (Movements in Art Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. glossary. index. CIP. Creative Education . 2008. Tr $32.80. Gr 5 Up In these solid introductions, Gunderson describes how art trends, politics, and inventions informed the work that was produced during each movement. For example, the development of the daguerreotype made it feasible for artists to paint from photographs during the rise of Realism. Each book provides an overview of the movement and its key players in continuous prose that is broken up by an occasional highlighted section of text. The color photographs, illustrations, and reproductions, many of them full page, are relevant and of high quality. The content is not as clearly delineated as in the "Artists in Profile" series (Heinemann Library), where each artist receives a separate entry under a bold heading, but Gunderson's images are superior and the texts deliver well-rounded accounts that students will find accessible. Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO

This terrific series introduces teen readers to art in a format that will appeal to older teens and adults as well. The main text and well-placed sidebars in each of these short books provide the context for the particular movement, introducing the historical events and leaders that shaped the period. Short biographies of the major artists of the day are entwined on the page with gorgeous color photographs of their works, while "Place to Visit" notes scattered throughout the books inform readers where they can see the art or the locales depicted in the art. Art-related terms are highlighted in the text and defined in a glossary at the back of the book. A time line, bibliography, and index provide further opportunities to learn more about each movement or to quickly locate a favorite artist or work. Romanticism traces the period from 1750 to 1850 when the passionate Romantic Movement swept through Western Europe. Children's book author Gunderson adroitly lays the backdrop by describing the Age of Enlightenment and the French Revolution before introducing readers to painters such as Jacques-Louis David, William Blake, and Francisco de Goya. Impressionism lays the context for the Impressionist period, whose artists introduced the world to unconventional techniques, including painting outdoors. The expected artists (e.g., Manet, Monet, Renoir) are mentioned along with the lesser-known Morisot and Sisley. The easily digestible text is more appropriate for upper middle and high school readers because some of the vocabulary (e.g., fantastical, systematic, profound) is too advanced for younger students. Teens and adults alike may use this series as either a stand-alone overview of primarily Western European art from the last millennium or as a launching point for further study of a particular movement or artist.ùLeah J. Sparks.