Prebles' Artforms, 13th edition

Published by Pearson (April 13, 2026) © 2027

  • Patrick L. Frank California State University, Monterey Bay
  • Duane Preble University of Hawaii
  • Sarah Preble University of Hawaii

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ISBN-13: 9780135414019 (2026 update)

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eTextbook access on Pearson+

ISBN-13: 9780135414019 (2026 update)

In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
  • More supportive. Get AI explanations and practice questions (select titles).
  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

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eTextbook on Pearson+

ISBN-13: 9780135414019 (2026 update)

In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
  • More supportive. Get AI explanations and practice questions (select titles).
  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

Title overview

Prebles' Artforms introduces the disciplines of the arts and examines their impact on individuals and society as a whole. Building on the foundation laid by Duane and Sarah Preble, author Patrick Frank combines coverage of classic and contemporary works to reflect the ever-evolving state of human creativity. This approach helps you understand that as humans form works of art, we’re shaped by what we've created.

The 13th Edition has been updated to reflect the art world today. Topics receiving fresh coverage include contemporary digital artforms, censorship and more. The inclusion of 6 new works by Latin American artists broadens the scope of the text to better reflect art from around the globe.

Table of contents

  1. The Nature of Art and Creativity
  2. The Purposes and Functions of Art
  3. The Visual Elements
  4. The Principles of Design
  5. Evaluating Art
  6. Drawing
  7. Painting
  8. Printmaking
  9. Photography
  10. Cinema and Digital Arts
  11. Design Disciplines
  12. Sculpture
  13. Craft Media in Useful Objects
  14. Architecture
  15. From the Earliest Art to the Bronze Age
  16. The Classical and Medieval West
  17. Renaissance and Baroque
  18. Traditional Arts of Asia
  19. The Islamic World
  20. Africa, Oceania and the Americas
  21. Late Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
  22. Early Twentieth Century
  23. Between World Wars
  24. Postwar Modern Movements, 1945 to 1975
  25. After Modernism: Telling New Stories

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