10 Best Art Books of All Time

Last Updated: May 8, 2025

If you’re an art lover or simply looking to dive deeper into the world of creativity, the right art book can offer inspiration, insight, and practical knowledge. Whether you’re an aspiring artist, an art historian, or someone who appreciates beautiful visuals, these 10 best art books are perfect for enriching your art collection.

1
The Story of Art

The Story of Art

E. H. Gombrich

1950

2
Ways of Seeing

Ways of Seeing

John Berger

1972

3
The Art Book

The Art Book

Phaidon Press

1997

4
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Betty Edwards

1979

5
The Painter’s Handbook

The Painter’s Handbook

Mark David Gottsegen

1993

6
Art as Therapy

Art as Therapy

Alain de Botton and John Armstrong

2013

7
The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Betty Edwards

1979

8
The Art Spirit

The Art Spirit

Robert Henri

1923

9
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

Austin Kleon

2012

10
The Elements of Drawing

The Elements of Drawing

John Ruskin

1857

Sources:

  1. Art history books – wikipedia.org
  2. Popular Art Books – goodreads.com
  3. 13 Books to Read to Understand the Art World – artsy.net
  4. 50 Top Art Books of All Time – theartist.me