Modern Art：A Very Short Introduction

Aspublicinterestinmodernartcontinuestogrow,aswitnessedbythespectacularsuccessofTateModernandtheBilbaoGuggenheim,thereisarealneedforabookthatwillengagegeneralreaders,offeringthemnotonlyinformationandideasaboutmodernart,butalsoexplainingitscontemporaryrelevanceandhistory.Thisbookachievesallthisandfocusesoninterrogatingtheideaof'modern'artbyaskingsuchquestionsas:Whathasmadeaworkofartqualifyasmodern(orfailto)?Howhasthisselectionbeenmade?Whatistherelationshipbetweenmodernandcontemporaryart?Is'postmodernist'artnolongermodern,orjustnolongermodernist-ineithercase,why,andwhatdoesthisclaimmean,bothforartandtheideaof'themodern'?Cottingtonexaminesmanykeyaspectsofthissubject,includingtheissueofcontroversyinmodernart,fromManet'sDejeunersurL'Herbe(1863)toPicasso'sLesDemoiselles,andTraceyEmin'sBed,(1999);andtheroleofthedealerfromthemainCubistartdealerKahnweilertoCharlesSaatchi.