What Are You Looking At?

The Surprising, Shocking, and Sometimes Strange Story of 150 Years of Modern Art

By: Will Gompertz

Narrated by: Matthew Waterson

For skeptics, art lovers, and the millions of us who visit art galleries every year - and are confused - What Are You Looking At? by former director of London's Tate Gallery Will Gompertz is a wonderfully lively, accessible narrative history of modern art, from Impressionism to the present day.

What is modern art? Who started it? Why do we either love it or loathe it? And why is it such big money? Join BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz on a dazzling tour that will change the way you look at modern art forever. From Monet's water lilies to Van Gogh's sunflowers, from Warhol's soup cans to Hirst's pickled shark, hear the stories behind the masterpieces, meet the artists as they really were, and discover the real point of modern art.

You will learn: not all conceptual art is bollocks; Picasso is king (but Cezanne is better); Pollock is no drip; Dali painted with his moustache; a urinal changed the course of art; why your five-year-old really couldn't do it. Refreshing, irreverent, and always straightforward, What Are You Looking At? cuts through the pretentious art speak and asks all the basic questions that you were too afraid to ask. Your next trip to the art gallery is going to be a little less intimidating and a lot more interesting.

©2012 Will Gompertz (P)2019 Tantor

Brilliant and informative and pure pleasure

This is a really terrific book on the various modern and contemporary art masterpieces and artists. Normally this subject matter is quite annoyingly full of artistic phraseology and garbage that pulls the reader away, but not so here. He loves art and he lives what he does and he explains things both on the level of a newbie to a confirmed art expert. No ego here, just plain speaking and clear comprehension and a desire to share. This is the real deal. I’m very happy I bought the audible- very well read!
This is a tough topic and he is fabulous. Bravo.

I enjoyed every moment of the journey and will likely listen to it again.

There isn't anything about it that I would change. I recommend this book to other art enthusiasts.

Loved it 🖼️

I learned so much and plan on sharing with my art docent friends.
Thank you

Genuine insight into modern art

A brilliant writer who zeroed in on the essential element of each of the overlapping series of modern and contemporary art movements. Absolutely fascinating.

Excellent book ... Excellent narration!

My wife and I listened to a large portion of the book while on a road trip recently and we both looked at each other and commented on how much we were learning. The author weaves together anecdotes that tell the story of the development of modern art. Not finished with it yet, but I am already coming away with an enriched appreciation for modern art. As anyone who has listened to audible books knows, the narrator can make or break an otherwise excellent book. I would place Waterson at the very top of my list of great narrators.