In Montmartre: Picasso, Matisse and Modernism in Paris, 1900-1910
- Downloads：3693
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-18 11:55:19
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Sue Roe
- ISBN：024195603X
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
A lively and deeply researched group biography of the figures who transformed the world of art in bohemian Paris in the first decade of the twentieth century
In Montmartre is a colorful history of the birth of Modernist art as it arose from one of the most astonishing collections of artistic talent ever assembled。 It begins in October 1900， as a teenage Pablo Picasso， eager for fame and fortune， first makes his way up the hillside of Paris’s famous windmill-topped district。 Over the next decade， among the studios， salons， cafés， dance halls， and galleries of Montmartre， the young Spaniard joins the likes of Henri Matisse， André Derain， Maurice de Vlaminck， Georges Braque， Amedeo Modigliani， Constantin Brancusi， Gertrude Stein， and many more， in revolutionizing artistic expression。
Sue Roe has blended exceptional scholarship with graceful prose to write this remarkable group portrait of the men and women who profoundly changed the arts of painting， sculpture， dance， music， literature， and fashion。 She describes the origins of movements like Fauvism， Cubism， and Futurism， and reconstructs the stories behind immortal paintings by Picasso and Matisse。 Relating the colorful lives and complicated relationships of this dramatic bohemian scene， Roe illuminates the excitement of the moment when these bold experiments in artistic representation and performance began to take shape。
A thrilling account， In Montmartre captures an extraordinary group on the cusp of fame and immortality。 Through their stories， Roe brings to life one of the key moments in the history of art。
Praise for In Montmartre
"Lively and engaging…。[Readers] will find a fresh sense of how all these people—the geniuses and the hangers-on， the wealthy collectors and the unworldly painters—related to each other…。。In [Roe’s] entertaining， ingeniously structured account Roe brings Montmatre’s hedyday back to life。" —Sunday Times （London）
"With evocative imagery Roe sketches out the intensely visual spectacle on which Montmatre’s artistic community was able to draw…。 Roe is particularly good at communicating the extraordinary devotion of Matisse and Picasso to their work。" —Financial Times
In Montmartre is a colorful history of the birth of Modernist art as it arose from one of the most astonishing collections of artistic talent ever assembled。 It begins in October 1900， as a teenage Pablo Picasso， eager for fame and fortune， first makes his way up the hillside of Paris’s famous windmill-topped district。 Over the next decade， among the studios， salons， cafés， dance halls， and galleries of Montmartre， the young Spaniard joins the likes of Henri Matisse， André Derain， Maurice de Vlaminck， Georges Braque， Amedeo Modigliani， Constantin Brancusi， Gertrude Stein， and many more， in revolutionizing artistic expression。
Sue Roe has blended exceptional scholarship with graceful prose to write this remarkable group portrait of the men and women who profoundly changed the arts of painting， sculpture， dance， music， literature， and fashion。 She describes the origins of movements like Fauvism， Cubism， and Futurism， and reconstructs the stories behind immortal paintings by Picasso and Matisse。 Relating the colorful lives and complicated relationships of this dramatic bohemian scene， Roe illuminates the excitement of the moment when these bold experiments in artistic representation and performance began to take shape。
A thrilling account， In Montmartre captures an extraordinary group on the cusp of fame and immortality。 Through their stories， Roe brings to life one of the key moments in the history of art。
Praise for In Montmartre
"Lively and engaging…。[Readers] will find a fresh sense of how all these people—the geniuses and the hangers-on， the wealthy collectors and the unworldly painters—related to each other…。。In [Roe’s] entertaining， ingeniously structured account Roe brings Montmatre’s hedyday back to life。" —Sunday Times （London）
"With evocative imagery Roe sketches out the intensely visual spectacle on which Montmatre’s artistic community was able to draw…。 Roe is particularly good at communicating the extraordinary devotion of Matisse and Picasso to their work。" —Financial Times
Reviews
Jeff
，
Sue Roe has painstakingly produced a rich， beautifully written work， In Montmartre。 If you are looking for a book that can transport you to Paris at a particular time in history， so robust you can visualize it; if you want a unique look at some of the great artists from the past; here， Roe gives you a full experience。 Art history should be what it is here- exciting， immersive， and of course， informative。 I learned many things about the artists and now view their work with so much more depth than Sue Roe has painstakingly produced a rich， beautifully written work， In Montmartre。 If you are looking for a book that can transport you to Paris at a particular time in history， so robust you can visualize it; if you want a unique look at some of the great artists from the past; here， Roe gives you a full experience。 Art history should be what it is here- exciting， immersive， and of course， informative。 I learned many things about the artists and now view their work with so much more depth than all the years I spent reading， researching， visiting museums and taking art classes- where the information had either rolled off me， or seemed too superficial。 Roe places it in context in a thoroughly enjoyable experience。 Now， I desperately want to go back to Montmartre and experience it with new appreciation。 。。。more
Sharon Avina
，
I love to read about art and artists， and this book gave me plenty to chew on， and an insight into some of my favorite artists， like Matisse。 As a character， though， Picasso was more interesting。 I wish there had been more on Modigliani。 He was always an outsider of the main group in Montmartre at that time。 Interesting how the Russian emigres stimulated connections between the artists and music and dance， and even fashion。
Lissa
，
This was a very well researched and written book。 Doesn’t take a really deep dive into the artists or those attached to them but brushes them all。 This book makes you want to dig deeper。 Highly recommend。
Liz Estrada
，
3。5 stars
Andrew Penning
，
Enjoyed much of it but found my attention oftentimes drifting elsewhere while listening to the audio book。 I think it could have been written with more clarity and focus， often dwelling in "characters" who just weren't that interesting。 Enjoyed much of it but found my attention oftentimes drifting elsewhere while listening to the audio book。 I think it could have been written with more clarity and focus， often dwelling in "characters" who just weren't that interesting。 。。。more
AC
，
4。5 stars。 A very “lively” interesting study — more social and biographical than critical — of Matisse and Picasso （and their artistic relationships） from 1900-1910。 This focused time span allows Roe to develop her themes in some depth。 She is especially good on the period before their financial successes， with fascinating discussions of Montmartre， the Butte， the various personalities， including Fernande and Modigliani， the circuses， early cinema， and the dealers of that time。 The final section 4。5 stars。 A very “lively” interesting study — more social and biographical than critical — of Matisse and Picasso （and their artistic relationships） from 1900-1910。 This focused time span allows Roe to develop her themes in some depth。 She is especially good on the period before their financial successes， with fascinating discussions of Montmartre， the Butte， the various personalities， including Fernande and Modigliani， the circuses， early cinema， and the dealers of that time。 The final section （IV） on cubism and its aftermath is less enthralling。 。。。more
Dean
，
Enjoyed this a great deal， gave a great sense of the artists and how they lived at this time and in this place。
Maxine Schur
，
For all Paris and art lovers this is a must read-- the author takes you into the heart of Montmartre where Picasso， Braque， Matisse， Modigliani and others all swirled around each other at shabby apartments， low-class cafes and of course at Gertrude Stein's。 Depicts the rise of all these （and more） scruffy young artists living in Montmartre and working to make their mark on art。 For all Paris and art lovers this is a must read-- the author takes you into the heart of Montmartre where Picasso， Braque， Matisse， Modigliani and others all swirled around each other at shabby apartments， low-class cafes and of course at Gertrude Stein's。 Depicts the rise of all these （and more） scruffy young artists living in Montmartre and working to make their mark on art。 。。。more
Barbara Cooper
，
I absolutely loved this book！ I know Paris fairly well after many visits。 Learning about this area of Paris as it was in the early 1900s was really interesting。 I am also a new artist。 Reading about the everyday lives Picasso， Matisse， Derain， the Steins， Modigliani and others when they were in the early years of their careers was fascinating。 The author， Sue Roe， is a very engaging author。 I did not want this book to end！
Katharine
，
A wonderfully readable account of the first decade of the 20th century in Paris。 While Picasso and Matisse are the focus we meet many other artists of the time and place: Derain， Modigliani， Vlaminick， Braque and Marie Laurencin （ the only woman artist） and the various collectors and dealers including Gertrude Stein and her brothers。 It is quite amazing to think of all the creative people working there including Diagalev， Poiret and others。 A lot of the book references a book written by Fernande A wonderfully readable account of the first decade of the 20th century in Paris。 While Picasso and Matisse are the focus we meet many other artists of the time and place: Derain， Modigliani， Vlaminick， Braque and Marie Laurencin （ the only woman artist） and the various collectors and dealers including Gertrude Stein and her brothers。 It is quite amazing to think of all the creative people working there including Diagalev， Poiret and others。 A lot of the book references a book written by Fernande Olivier，Picasso's lover at the time。 While he reached stratospheric fame she had a rather sad life after they parted- which I discovered on Wikipedia。 The setting in Montmartre is very evocative of the place and it is kind of a thrill to read about various streets I recall from visits。 My only quibble is the paucity of photos。 I spent a lot of time searching on the internet to see the paintings and people discussed。 It was well worth the time because it really enhanced and completed the experience。 Maybe some day printed books will have QR codes next to a painting discussed in the book？ 。。。more
Kevin McAvoy
，
Very good descriptions of artists lives， struggles and peeves at the turn of the century。Picasso's bio was very interesting and will lead me to another of his biographies。 Very good descriptions of artists lives， struggles and peeves at the turn of the century。Picasso's bio was very interesting and will lead me to another of his biographies。 。。。more
Anders
，
I enjoyed this a lot。 As a biography， it's very readable。 While it uses intricate details of primary sources--letters， journals， etc。--， it's never cumbersome。 If anything， I thought it was a bit light on substance， but I can't judge a book too hard for being readable and this one still does a good job with its subject。Its short chapters begin as snapshots of the times。 In fact， at the beginning I was a bit bored because it didn't get to Picasso。 However， shortly， it wasn't hard to get involved I enjoyed this a lot。 As a biography， it's very readable。 While it uses intricate details of primary sources--letters， journals， etc。--， it's never cumbersome。 If anything， I thought it was a bit light on substance， but I can't judge a book too hard for being readable and this one still does a good job with its subject。Its short chapters begin as snapshots of the times。 In fact， at the beginning I was a bit bored because it didn't get to Picasso。 However， shortly， it wasn't hard to get involved in how he and Matisse would emerge from the Paris art scene， tracking their various influences and the people in their circles。 I particularly enjoyed quotations where the artists explained part of their approach to painting and there are representative snippets from Cezanne， Matisse， Picasso， and some other artists I was less familiar with but I learned their significance to， as the book says， the birth of Modernist art， like the fauvists-Derain and Vlaminck。 The lives of the artists are packaged in a neat narrative that has no particular tension except the squabbles and dramas that one person might have with another; Matisse was particularly sensitive。 And some famous debates are touched on， like the origin of synthetic cubism （Braque or Picasso） or Matisse and Picasso's "feud。"So yeah， definitely worth a read if you're interested in Picasso and Matisse， not to mention the Fauvists， but Braque， Modigliani， among others。 I love a good book that tracks the conceptual thread of some historical thing or another。 While I would say in the realm of art I favor either the impressionists/post-impressionists or the abstract expressionists both before and after these modernists， but I still， having seen so many of these very famous early 20th century paintings， loved reading about them and doubly appreciated the sociohistorical context。 。。。more
Ron Bergquist
，
Thoroughly interesting， well written。
Christina Dongowski
，
I really enjoyed reading this history of cubism & fauvism （or of the birth of Modern Art） cantered around Montmartre。 Roe achieves a really good balance of art history， social history and plain old gossip to recreate the moment， when only a rather small group of people achieved major steps in the development of art， entertainment & fashion。 Roe tracks the movements of the major players and how they gravitate to each other， although they start out with different agendas。 She‘s really good at conv I really enjoyed reading this history of cubism & fauvism （or of the birth of Modern Art） cantered around Montmartre。 Roe achieves a really good balance of art history， social history and plain old gossip to recreate the moment， when only a rather small group of people achieved major steps in the development of art， entertainment & fashion。 Roe tracks the movements of the major players and how they gravitate to each other， although they start out with different agendas。 She‘s really good at conveying the excitement and the stress of being Avantgarde & creating art nobody has ever seen before - and to mark the difference to all the consciously built up Isms after Fauvism & Cubism。 Roe includes the women of Montmartre into her narrative without resorting to the tired tropes of „muses“: She shows them as integral part of the artistic scene and as important factors of the Montmartre economy of precarious living。 Alice B。 Toklas & Gertrude Stein figure prominently as historians of the time and as artists。 The book is highly readable and gets a lot of information across without being didactic or specialist。 If you are interested in how Modern Art was created at the statt of the 20th Century， This Is a very good book to get started。 CN: Minor racialised language。 。。。more
Andreea
，
This took a while to get into but I'm glad I stuck with it as I learned so much。 I recommend looking up each painting as it's mentioned to get a fuller sense of the artistic changes the books describes。 Sue Roe paints a vivid picture of Paris in the 1900s and shows how art， music， dance and literature meshed together to create what we now consider Modernist Art。 The pacing was a bit hard to follow at times but that didn't take away from how informative it was。 Even though it felt like it was jum This took a while to get into but I'm glad I stuck with it as I learned so much。 I recommend looking up each painting as it's mentioned to get a fuller sense of the artistic changes the books describes。 Sue Roe paints a vivid picture of Paris in the 1900s and shows how art， music， dance and literature meshed together to create what we now consider Modernist Art。 The pacing was a bit hard to follow at times but that didn't take away from how informative it was。 Even though it felt like it was jumping around a lot， the overall arc of the book conveyed the shift from art as reproduction to art as sensation and made me understand a lot more。 。。。more
Jean Cole
，
nice overview of Picasso， Matisse， Gertrude Stein & family。 Hard to believe that the now famous artists were struggling for years just to survive。 Doesn't pay to be a groundbreaker！ nice overview of Picasso， Matisse， Gertrude Stein & family。 Hard to believe that the now famous artists were struggling for years just to survive。 Doesn't pay to be a groundbreaker！ 。。。more
Jane
，
Fascinating！
Jessie Brown
，
Refreshing easy-to-read window into the early twentieth century art world of Paris。 Primarily about Picasso。 Perfect quarentine reading about a time that seems so much gentler and innocent。
Martina
，
The very first impression over the first 32 pages of this book is — the author is really in love with the subject she is writing about。 And you get swept along， sharing her enthusiasm， indulging in her vivid descriptions of things she can’t possible know anything about with certainty but which all might have as well happened the way she describes them。 This isn’t advertised as a fiction book， therefore， you expect a certain level of credibility from it and you trust the author， having no reason The very first impression over the first 32 pages of this book is — the author is really in love with the subject she is writing about。 And you get swept along， sharing her enthusiasm， indulging in her vivid descriptions of things she can’t possible know anything about with certainty but which all might have as well happened the way she describes them。 This isn’t advertised as a fiction book， therefore， you expect a certain level of credibility from it and you trust the author， having no reason whatsoever to suspect wether or not she has done her research and homework for this book。 Why wouldn’t she？A lot of love went into writing of this book。 A type of love that makes you giggle a bit and immediately like the author。 Almost as much love as a very naive and romantically inclined teenager feels towards her first love。 The type， the amount and the kind of love that inevitably also makes you do things you’ll later not be very proud of。 And so， on the page 33， second paragraph， the first serious glitch happens。 Introducing Vollard to the reader， and masterfully preparing the story for the grand emergence of Picasso， Sue Roe writes:“To celebrate the opening of his new gallery he [Vollard] was planing a second show of van Gogh’s work — for which he had acquired more than sixty paintings from the artist’s studio in Amsterdam， together with a large number of watercolours and drawings — to be held in February。”This is a book entitled “In Montmartre”， clearly stating that it is about “Picasso， Matisse and Modernism in Paris 1900 - 1910” and advertised in Guardian and other very reliable papers as “A group biography that manages not to miss any steps。”。 Clearly it isn’t a fiction book and why shouldn’t you believe the Guardian and The Times？Therefore， let’s be fair to the author and see that she actually doesn’t necessary have to know anything about van Gogh， a painter of an earlier generation who passed away about a decade before the start of her book。 It would be nice if she knew， especially as she few pages further tries to establish a connection of influence between van Gogh and several painters she actually is writing the book about， but she doesn’t really need to know anything about the whereabouts of van Gogh's paintings “at the start of 1901”。 She doesn’t need to have any clue whether or not there ever was anything even remotely resembling a studio of van Gogh in Amsterdam， where his paintings were in 1901 or where from， at that time， and from whom an art dealer in Paris could have acquired paintings by van Gogh。 Even if the dealer is as prominent and as for her book as crucial as Vollard， she still can be forgiven for this small and let’s be honest not very important — at least not important for her book — and even not very unambiguous glitch。And although a tiny residue of a slightly bitter taste now stays somewhere around the edges of your trust in the authors credibility about the things with wich you are not so elaborately familiar about， you decide to anyway keep trusting her。 After all， this really is a very enjoyable， gay and very easily readable text。 It was a glitch。 It can happen to anyone， so you smile and you happily continue enjoying the author’s virtuosity and her very vivid imagination over the following 40ish pages。 Until on the page 76 you discover that she is not familiar with the name of her main character。 And this time it isn’t a glitch。 This time， it unfortunately is just simply lack of basic knowledge and the final reason to close the book and not read another word of it， because this time she unfortunately hasn’t left any space at all for you， the reader， to somehow excuse， justify， defend or sympathise with the author's lack of knowledge of the subject she is writing about。Page 76， paragraph two: “Picasso also showed them some of his earlier works; these were signed Pablo Ruiz （Ruiz was his mother’s maiden name）。”🤷♀️ I am very sorry that I have noticed it， but how possibly can this be excused or explained？If you can’t trust an author of a book to know the name of her main protagonist， and if the protagonist is as famous as Pablo Picasso， and if the facts of his name and of the change of his surname from Ruiz， which was his birth name， to Picasso， which was his mothers maiden name， are not only so important for the interpretation of the biography of a painter but also so unquestionably well documented， commented and explained as in the case of Pablo Picasso by Picasso himself — how can you trust anything else in this book？It really is a pity。 Maybe this are the only two seriously false facts in the entire book。 Or maybe the book teems with false information although it isn’t sold as a fiction book… You’ll know only by doing your own research or by simply reading a plethora of other more reliable books on the same subject。 Happy reading！love， m 。。。more
Katie Bonzer
，
The book is a fantastic transportation in time to a time that we as francophiles romanticize。 Not touching too much On Van Gogh but stepping directly into Matisse， Picasso， Cezanne etc early days and the highs of each art season in Montmartre。 The days of Moulin Rouge， the art studios， the cafe bands all described beautifully。 I didnt previously know of the temperature of the artists rivalry and how they grew to appreciate one another。 Going through the styles of fauvism into the transition of t The book is a fantastic transportation in time to a time that we as francophiles romanticize。 Not touching too much On Van Gogh but stepping directly into Matisse， Picasso， Cezanne etc early days and the highs of each art season in Montmartre。 The days of Moulin Rouge， the art studios， the cafe bands all described beautifully。 I didnt previously know of the temperature of the artists rivalry and how they grew to appreciate one another。 Going through the styles of fauvism into the transition of the termed cubism was a great depiction of the times， and the introduction of Russian ballet and the styles the rebounded from it in post FrancoPrussian War was fascinating。 The writer touches in the romances and home life of the painters without beating down the culture of the artists and their intimate mistress relationships。The ending was the only part I wasn't find of， it sort of abruptly ended the story without enough closure。I recommend this book！ I will likely read it again。 。。。more
Noah Goats
，
I really enjoyed this book。 Roe follows the lives of Picasso and Matisse along with other artists， art dealers， collectors， and writers living in Paris just after the turn of the century。 They are， needless to say， a colorful group。 Roe explores their lives， their loves， their work， and also their environment as she brings the Montmartre of the era to life。
Tony Wainaina
，
In Montmartre was given to me as a Christmas gift in December 2015 by my dearest daughter Wambui。 At first reading I ploughed through the book， consuming it as I would a work of fiction， and eventually ground to a halt after the first 100 or so pages。 As much as the subject matter interested me， there was just too much detail to absorb， and I ended up glossing over this detail， failing to establish and maintain the thread of the storyline。 I picked up In Montmartre again just over 5 years later， In Montmartre was given to me as a Christmas gift in December 2015 by my dearest daughter Wambui。 At first reading I ploughed through the book， consuming it as I would a work of fiction， and eventually ground to a halt after the first 100 or so pages。 As much as the subject matter interested me， there was just too much detail to absorb， and I ended up glossing over this detail， failing to establish and maintain the thread of the storyline。 I picked up In Montmartre again just over 5 years later， on the 20th of March 2020 - this time determined to really 'read' and internalise the book。 I took copious notes， reading the book as if I was studying for an art history exam - and it what a difference this approach made！！ This is probably the most profound， best written book I have come across on art history。 I felt like I was one of the residents in Montmarte， observing this historic birth and evolution of modernist art unfold during the first decade of the 20th century。 As Sue summarises at the very end of the book - "The struggles of a few dedicated， near-destitute artists working in the broken-down shacks and hovels of rural Montmartre seemed to have created the foundations for the wider arena of modern art。"My understanding of the meaning of art has been profoundly altered by In Montmartre。 I understand the interdependence across the different genre artists and art forms; and how this interdependence is so central to nurturing each artist's and each art form's growth。 "Like a cubist painting， the suggestive rapports of Gertrude Stein's writing， or the new medium of narrative cinema composed in successive frames， Petrushka （a folkloric ballet that told the story of three puppets） celebrated the eclectic， nuanced vision and method of radical juxtaposition now emerging across all the arts。"I've often heard abut the influence on African tribal sculpture on Picasso's evolution， but I now understand how monumentally this exposure influenced his transformation from Impressionism to Cubism - or as we are made to understanding from the book - "Picasso saw his new way of painting as a method of uncovering forms that was unnameable - nothing really to do with cubes。" 。。。more
Rowan
，
Not exactly a riveting read - I liked her book on the impressionists much better - but a good overview of the period。 3。5 stars。
Kirti Upreti
，
This book makes you realise how tumultous were the early decades of the 20th century and yet it was the same time that shaped the modern life。 The period had the fortune to witness the emergence of some of the greatest minds of all time who not only brought new perspectives but even moved beyond their limitations。 Picasso wasn't just a painter。 Art was no more restricted to paintings。 Matisse wasn't trying to make himself understood。 Derain had his own opinions on what being an artist meant。 It This book makes you realise how tumultous were the early decades of the 20th century and yet it was the same time that shaped the modern life。 The period had the fortune to witness the emergence of some of the greatest minds of all time who not only brought new perspectives but even moved beyond their limitations。 Picasso wasn't just a painter。 Art was no more restricted to paintings。 Matisse wasn't trying to make himself understood。 Derain had his own opinions on what being an artist meant。 It is a story of some unconventional geniuses gathered together in the streets of Montmartre。 There was never a dull moment in the story spanning over a decade and a half。 If you are into modern art and art history， then this is a must read for you。 However， familiarising yourself with the works of Matisse and Cubism would help you savour the story better。 A brief reading of the Art section of the book 'Modernism' by Peter Gay would set you right for the iridescent journey through time。 。。。more
Katherine
，
I’d read and enjoyed her previous book about the Impressionists， and enjoyed this one as well。 She has a knack for creating the world of Paris in which the artists loved， while juggling a number of “characters”。 I found it very helpful to have my iPad nearby so I could see the paintings referred to in the books; this greatly enhanced my enjoyment and gave me a lot of “ah-ha！” moments。Interesting read regarding a hugely transformative period in 20th century art。
Sebastian
，
At around a third of the way through this I just didn't want to read it anymore because there is such a thing as far too much mundane detail on someone's life。 At around a third of the way through this I just didn't want to read it anymore because there is such a thing as far too much mundane detail on someone's life。 。。。more
Tom
，
I enjoyed this book。 It's a thorough account of those years when modern art came into being。 I strongly recommend reading it with your iPad or laptop nearby so you can look up the many paintings that Sue Roe covers。 I enjoyed this book。 It's a thorough account of those years when modern art came into being。 I strongly recommend reading it with your iPad or laptop nearby so you can look up the many paintings that Sue Roe covers。 。。。more
Sevelyn
，
Singular book， well written and scrupulously researched。 The author’s focus is on the period spanning （roughly） 1900-1911。 Then， Montmartre was rural， ramshackle。 Over that time period， a handful of artists and members of their social circle ushered in 。。。 modernity。 Many of them had a hand in redefining art。 The author has firm control of her subject and the English language， this is evident on every page。 I learned a great deal and enjoyed the read tremendously。 Gertrude Stein， for example， is Singular book， well written and scrupulously researched。 The author’s focus is on the period spanning （roughly） 1900-1911。 Then， Montmartre was rural， ramshackle。 Over that time period， a handful of artists and members of their social circle ushered in 。。。 modernity。 Many of them had a hand in redefining art。 The author has firm control of her subject and the English language， this is evident on every page。 I learned a great deal and enjoyed the read tremendously。 Gertrude Stein， for example， is often taken up in discussions of the 20s; here， her influence is well chronicled as far back as the beginning of the 20th C。 Overall， it is a period —and a discussion—that few if any have taken on with this amount of detail。 。。。more
Lucy Allison
，
This book was very well researched but for some reason it just took me ages to get through， even though the subject was interesting and the writing was good。
Andy
，