Let's set the scene. It's the 1890s. The Impressionists had their moment, but now the art world is splitting into a hundred different directions. In The History of Modern Painting, Volume 2, Richard Muther picks up the story right at this chaotic, brilliant moment. He doesn't just tell you what happened; he shows you the paint-splattered battlefield.

The Story

Think of this less as a textbook and more as a guided tour through a revolution. Muther walks us through the birth of Post-Impressionism. We meet the giants: Van Gogh, with his swirling, emotional skies; Gauguin, escaping to Tahiti in search of a 'primitive' paradise; and Cézanne, the quiet genius obsessed with geometric shapes, who would change everything for the 20th century. But it's not just about them. Muther introduces us to the Symbolists, who painted dreams and nightmares, and the Nabis, a group of artists trying to bring art into everyday life. The 'plot' is the dramatic shift from painting what you see to painting what you feel, think, or dream. It's the story of art breaking its own rules.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this book special is Muther's voice. He was a critic living through this change, and his excitement is contagious. He's not a dry historian looking back; he's in the thick of it, arguing about these new paintings. He makes you understand why Van Gogh's thick, frantic brushstrokes felt so shocking, and why Gauguin's bright, flat colors were a radical statement. He connects the dots between social changes, new ideas in science and philosophy, and the art on the canvas. You finish this feeling like you understand not just what these artists painted, but why they had to paint that way.

Final Verdict

This is the perfect read for anyone who loves a good story about rebels and underdogs. You don't need a PhD in art history. If you've ever visited a museum and been curious about how we got from pretty landscapes to abstract explosions of color, this is your roadmap. It's for the curious reader who wants to look at a famous painting and finally get the drama behind it. A word of warning: it was written in 1899, so the language is of its time, but that's also part of the charm—you're getting the contemporary scoop. Dive in and meet the madmen who made modern art.