| [Revisited Mar’13] Google started this revolutionary and comprehensive Art Project in 2011 with 17 participating art institutions (previous review, CH, Aug’11, 48-6689). Its scope and popularity have expanded considerably, and the number of users has skyrocketed. The website http://www.googleartproject.com/ now includes 37,000-plus artworks, 7,700-plus artists, more than 12,400 galleries, and 184 collections of art in 40 countries. Many of the world’s major art museums have joined, as have many smaller collections in nonurban areas, university galleries, those collecting non-Western art, and special collections such as that of the White House. The virtual art experience begins with Explore the Museum, with Google‘s Street View giving users the impression of the museum’s exterior; or with the Artwork view. A walk through each gallery can be enhanced with an audio tour. Clicking on an individual artwork reveals a number of features for further exploration.
Perhaps the most exciting new enhancement is the capability to view each work in much greater detail. Each collection represented on the website features one work that is illustrated with such clarity (seven billion pixels) that even the tiniest details can be studied. The My Galleries feature allows users to create their own collections, providing a curatorial experience for students of art history; collections may be shared with anyone. Users have the option of browsing by Collections, Artists, Artworks, or User Galleries. Another improvement is the Compare feature, which allows two works of art to be examined side by side. By clicking on the image of an artwork, users gain access to basic information that may include a description, history of the provenance, viewing notes, a video, a map of relevant locations, and links to other works by the same artist and the museums where they are located. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general audience. — E. M. Hansen, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh |