Now in a new Second Edition, A World of Art offers a basic introduction to art that extends the traditional discussion of the formal, stylistic, and historical characteristics of art in Western culture to include works by artists from around the world. Works of art are placed in a broader and more diverse cultural context, thereby allowing students to begin to understand each other better and learn what traditions make their own culture unique.

Henry Sayre, author of the best-selling Writing About Art, employs examples that are topical, interesting, and lend themselves to critical scrutiny. A World of Art has been revised to accompany a new PBS series and telecourse for teaching art appreciation entitled A World of Art: Works in Progress, funded by the Annenberg Project at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.