Introduces the full range and depth of the early 20th-century European avant-gardes

This engaging introduction outlines the cultural and political contexts in which the avant-gardes operated, taking readers on a journey throughout the whole of Europe. It discusses the most salient features of the avant-gardes’ work in all the arts, succinctly surveys the major avant-garde movements (cubism, futurism, expressionism, Dadaism, constructivism and many other -isms) and demonstrates the ways in which they transformed the face of all modern art forms. Clearly written, this book shows readers and students of modernism how and why the avant-gardes were a major force in modern art and culture.

Key Features

An up-to-date and thorough guide to the ‘classic’ European avant-gardes, from 1905 to 1935 Covers all the arts practiced by the classic European avant-gardes - from painting and film, literature and sculpture, architecture and photography to theatre, dance and music - focusing on the specificity of each art form as well as on what united them
Includes text-boxes, 100 illustrations, many in colour, and a user-friendly index/glossary