As the 1970s faded into the 1980s, a phenomenon known as the New Painting or Neo-Expressionism emerged with amazing speed, first in Germany and Italy, then in the United States, Great Britain and France. Hyperbole flourished alongside this new style, with one critic going so far as to claim that an artist he favored had actually "reinvented" painting. Tony Godfrey briskly dismisses the idea that any one individual was singlehandedly responsible for his return to figuration, but he does conclude that yes, in fact, the state of painting has totally changed during the past few years. Illustrations of major canvases by such central figure as Georg Baselitz, Francesco Clemente, Eric Fischl, Julian Schnabel, Susan Rothenberg and David Salle -- including fifty full-color reproductions -- are juxtaposed with compelling images by less-familiar artists to provide a vivid overview of this international movement's startling diversity. This handsome volume offers a welcome introduction to the most intriguing and controversial painting of our time. -- From publisher's description.
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