This is volumn 1 of in a series of 12, and sets out an argument for modern art's beginning in the late 1880s (rather than the second half of the 1860s, as some assert). Russell begins with a persuasive and eloquent explanation of what art means to us, why it is important and why it is important for us to understand the art of our time. Hence this series.

The artists considered in individual sections: Seurat, Cezanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh.

The illustration are plentiful and are of high quality, although limited in size, as the book is fairly small for an art book (10" x 10½ "). ( )