The Short Story of Modern Art explains the how, why and when of modern art who introduced certain things, what they were, where they were produced, and why they matter.

Simply constructed, the book explores 50 key works from the realist painting of Courbet to a contemporary installation by Yayoi Kusama and then links them to the most important movements, themes and techniques. Accessible, concise and richly illustrated, the book reveals the connections between different periods, artists and styles, giving readers a thorough understanding and broad enjoyment of modern art.