This bestselling, comprehensive introductory book covers all aspects of the visual arts making it the most accessible and complete visual arts guide available – a wonderful resource for students and art lovers alike. The book features more than 800 images. Additionally, the authors have selected eight iconic works that represent the extraordinary variety of art created throughout time and around the world. As these great works are examined from different points of view in the four parts of the book, the reader gains a deeper understanding of the skill involved in artistic creation, and the endless expressive possibilities of art.