A ground-breaking analysis of artistic Modernism, from its philosophical and technical roots in the 18th century, to the genesis and foundational principles of Contemporary Art in the 20th century. From Neoclassicism to Pop Art, incisive commentary on the work of David, Ingres, Cezanne, Picasso, Andy Warhol and Marcel Duchamp, unveils why and how, under pressure from Marxist ideology, painting took directions which led to abstraction. The author's own artistic adventures are the backdrop for explorations of fundamental aspects of painting - notably composition, color and drawing - which will enrich the art experience of painters and non-painters alike.