Following the Introduction, through nine chapters renowned art critic Edward Lucie-Smith provides a commentary under headings such as Post Pop and Modern Taste, Abstract painting, Illusionary Art, Figurative Art, Political art and more. The book includes a biographical list of artists, a list for further reading and an index.

The book is illustrated in black and white and colour throughout, the images running with the text and appearing on the relevant pages of text. Of the 212 illustrations just 31 are in colour; the quality of reproduction is not good, the monochromes especially lack detail in both the highlights and the shadows, the colour images fair rather better, but they are very much in the minority. The overall visual impression is not helped by the narrow page margins and tightly packed pages. The images vary in size with a good many quite large and a number full page in size.

While this is and interesting and abundantly illustrated paperback, it is let down by the quality of the images.

ISBN 0714820277X Hardback, 0714820177 Paperback, 11" x 8.5", 128 pages, 1980 ( )