Historical Dictionary of Contemporary Art

Contemporary art presents a challenge, as it is both diverse and less readily understood than art from earlier periods. It is too young to merit the comfort of an established historical evaluation and in a revealing preface the author admits that despite these difficulties, she has endeavoured to provide some insights into this complex area. As an established authority in the field, she is ably qualified to do so.

The scene is set with an extremely useful chronology which outlines year by year the principal developments and events. This serves as a welcome pointer to significant themes such as important...