Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This book details different types of art, starting with Egyptian art and ending with modern street artists. Each section had an illustration of a cat, done in that particular style. Then, it broke down the image to show what each detail represents in terms of that art style.

This was a very entertaining book. I loved the pictures of the cats! I also learned a lot about those different art styles.

I highly recommend this book for art and cat lovers!

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie’s first book of the month was A History of Art in 21 Cats by Nia Gould. This short and sweet tome introduces 21 different art styles and movements from throughout history by showing us how a cat might look if painted using those techniques.

There’s more here than just a few paintings, however. Each art style/movement gets an introductory paragraph opposite its cat painting that explains how it was founded, its key concepts and values, and important artists from the movement. The following pages break down the cat painting and explain why each element was included, from the use of color to brush strokes, line thickness, angles, and more. After reading each short chapter, Sophie felt as if she had a very basic, core understanding of what that art movement or style was about and she could attempt her own painting using some of its common elements.

The book is laid out chronologically, beginning in Ancient Egypt and moving through the Renaissance, Symbolism, Art Deco, Pop Art, and ending with the Young British Artists including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin. There is a strong focus on art styles from the 20th century, but the book covered all the movements you would imagine and many that were new to Sophie, at least by name.

While art lovers are unlikely to learn anything new from this book, Sophie is sure they will find it amusing (especially if they are cat lovers) and she also imagines it would be very helpful for kids who are just beginning to learn about art in school. The book inspired her to start experimenting with different styles in her own drawings, and if that isn’t the point of a book about different kinds of art, Sophie isn’t sure what is.

I enjoyed reading this review through art history as illustrated with cats. The author presents short descriptions of periods of art and uses cats to illustrate the themes. The book is cute and funny but you will still learn about art. Anyone interested in art history with a fondness for cats will enjoy this book

I received an advance digital copy of this book from the author, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ms. Gould has created a delightfully funny book. Perfect for art and cat lovers alike, she teaches the art history class you wish you could have taken in college. Excellently done!

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

A History of Art in 21 Cats is entertaining book that reviews art history in a fun way. The author goes through the history of art and art movements by using illustrations of cats in recognizable ways throughout famous works of art. Anyone looking for a fun way to freshen up on art history or learning about it for the first time would enjoy a break from typical monotonous art history books. This one is a keeper!

What a fun and informative book! I was expecting something cutesy and not much more, but it was so much more than that. Each cat portrait gives an example of a different type or school of art, combining details that help define that category. The details are then explained individually, citing particular artists in that category that used them, why it was used, what it represented, etc. In doing this, the reader gets a better understanding of different art movements, learns some of the artists involved in the movement, the cultural significance, all kinds of easily accessible, interesting information presented in a fun way. Plus, there's cats!

#AhistoryOfArtIn21cats #NetGalley

A combination of two of my favorite subjects – art and cats. Starting with images from when cats were actually worshiped (which we all know they’ve never forgotten) and working through the most famous artistic movements of Western Europe and the US, 21 “paintings” of cats depict the elements and embellishments which typify what makes each style unique.

As such, the paintings are not just catified copies of one famous work but rather combine several artists’ elements together such as the Renaissance cat posed like La Gioconda but with a headdress and pearl from Vermeer. Or the Post Impressionist cat with a Van Gogh bandaged ear amidst sunflowers and Cezanne apples who is wearing a Gauguin tropical shirt.

The elements are then broken down and described – highlighting what each artist brought to the particular style being discussed. Further information about the artists and what inspired them enhances each section. By the time I was finished reading it, I’d gained more insight into the various movements and what makes them special. I have to say that the Piet Mondrian kitty is a favorite while the Pointillist cat does shimmer. May I request a future book with Asian, South Asian and African artistic styles? This not only informative but fun. B+

If only the books when I was in school had adorable drawings of cats, I would have learned a lot more. The illustrations are so vibrant and beautiful. The historical facts were presented in such a way that it was easy to learn new things without thinking about it too much! I highly recommend this book!

How much do you know about art? This book (with the help from 21 lovely cats) gives information on different art styles through history.

Pop art, surrealism, impressionism and post Impressionism are my favorites. I got to see which aspects make up each style.

A great way to learn about art with a fun feline twist.

A History of Art in 21 Cats takes a leisurely stroll through the history of art by using charming and colorful cat portraits. Each style of art starts with a portrait of a cat using the most recognizable and most significant features of the art movement, eat portrait displaying a sense of humor, wonder, and whimsy. Each art movement has an introduction as well as a couple of pages that take the representative cat portrait apart and look closely at each facet, explaining the artist and the style that it expresses.

Beautifully illustrated by Nia Gould, this charming book starts with the art of Ancient Egypt and the Byzantine, Renaissance, and Rococo periods, and then moves through the highly recognizable Impressionists, Pointillists, and Cubists. Then it goes on to more abstract art movements, and helps explain Dadaism, Magic Realism, Surrealism, and Abstract Impressionism in a way I could finally understand and recognize. She ends with the more modern Pop Art, Minimalism, and Graffiti.

But can you really learn art by looking at paintings of cats? Absolutely! I took an art class back in college, and I remember several of the more obvious artists of history (Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso—all those artists whose work can now be bought in large posters, on mugs, knitted into socks, printed on umbrellas). But there are artists in this book whose art I was far less familiar with, and art movements I had trouble wrapping my head around.

After reading through this short book and seeing how Gould conceptualizes the art movements through the centuries, I have a far better understanding, and a deeper appreciation, of Fauvism, De Stijl, CoBrA, Art Deco, and Postimpressionism. The cats, frankly, I already liked.

So who should read this book? Anyone wanting to learn more about art. Do you know a kid who is interested in learning how to paint? Or a college student needing to cram for their art history midterm? Do you want your parents to understand the art you love? Have a friend who loves art and cats? Buy each of them a copy of A History of Art in 21 Cats, and get an extra one for yourself. This is an adorable gift book and an incredible resource in one tiny tome.

I feel like I’m going overboard on this little book of cat portraits, but it genuinely moved me that much. I didn’t expect to fall in love with it. I didn’t expect to understand art better. On both counts, I was wrong.

Galleys for A History of Art in 21 Cats were provided by Andrews McMeel Pubishing through NetGalley, with many thanks. My permanent copy I will soon be buying for myself.

Overall, really enjoyed this book. Loved the concept and the way it was set up. I loved learning about the different aspects of the different art styles. I do wish that there were actual examples from the different movements in addition to the cartoonish examples. And I loved the timeline at the back but wish the dates were included in each section so I didn't have to go to the back to figure out the time period each time.

The title is fairly self explanatory. This is a fantastically illustrated book about art. And about cats. If you love art, but don't particularly care about cats, you'll still enjoy this. If you love cats but don't really have an interest in art, I feel like you can still enjoy this for what it is.

21 art styles, beautifully rendered via cats. From the impressionists to the surreal, the cubists to graffiti artists. Each cat is an amalgamation of different artists, with specific pieces pulled out to show what specific artists of that style were famous for.

I don't know who the core audience for this is, but I do feel like this book would happily find a place in school libraries and art studios. Anyone who has an appreciation for art can have this as a coffee table book, to be flipped through and enjoyed at any random page.

Thank you to Andrews McMeet for a digital edition via NetGalley of Nia Gould’s ‘A History of Art in 21 Cats’ in exchange for an honest review.

From Ancient Egypt through to various modern art movements Nia Gould has created this delightful feline-themed history of art.

Her versions of famous paintings featuring cats were just fab. Along the way Nia Gould provides interesting little snippets of information about each artistic style.

The NetGalley edition was in low resolution, which allowed me to gain a sense of the content even though the images were in black and white. Loving cats as I do as well as being interested in art history, I immediately ordered its hardback edition. The bright and vibrant colours as shown on the cover are continued throughout.

It makes a brilliant coffee table book and would be the purrfect gift for cat-loving friends and family.

This is a funny yet inspiring look at art history. The inclusion of cats as a tool to understand different art movements is a genius idea. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

I was so excited when I requested this. Cat Lover like me supposed to be fan over such book but unfortunately, even after successful download the book is opening up a blank in Aldiko. I tried multiple other book readers but all in vain :( Disappointed

This was such a cute and informative book! I'm an art major and cat lover and this was just so perfect to read!! I can't wait to show off what I learned from this book to my art history professor!

A History of Art in 21 Cats by Nia Gould was the purr-fect combination of fun, cute kitties, and education. Gould's playful work is purr-fect for anyone who wishes that she knew a little bit more about art history. This book won't make you into an overnight art history expert (which makes sense, because that isn't her goal), but it WILL use adorable cat paintings to introduce you to the major developments of art history in the Western World.

Each major period of art history is illustrated by a lovely feline painted in the style of that era. Gould then uses several pages to explain some of the details about each cat painting and how those details represent larger trends and defining features of the different movements. The device is clever and a lot of fun to explore. 

I've always been interested in the history of art, but other than a brief brush with an art history class in college, I've never had the opportunity to learn much about art in general. A History of Art in 21 Cats was lots of fun to read. Also, now that I have explored this fun little book, I'm certain that I will more deeply appreciate the works of art I encounter during my next trip to a museum. 

I recommend A History of Art in 21 Cats for all cat lovers and anyone who is interested in learning more about art history. It would also be a helpful tool for art teachers or those who are home schooling their children.

The illustrations in this book were incredible and very informing. This is a wonderful book for cat and art lovers that are just dipping their toes. It is easy to understand and is very informing to the appropriate audience.

A fun book depicting the cat portraiture through the ages in painted form. The book states off with Egyptian times, meanders through Byzantine, Renaissance, Rocco, Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Art Decor, Pop Art, to names just a few, and ending with Graffiti.
There are lots of tidbits of information along the way, I absolutely love the art decor cat. A fun way to travel through art periods for all ages.