"Irving Sandler's historical survey and critical appraisal of this vital and important movement begins with a description of the sociopolitical, economic, and cultural milieu of the Depression years, including the Federal Art Project administered by the Works Progress Administration. An account of the 1940s, when Cubist and Surrealist trends predominated in America and as well as on the continent, is followed by a detailed analysis of the flowering of Abstract Expressionism among the artists of the New York School in the 1950s. Mr. Sandler provides a chronological account of the gradual growth of Abstract Expressionism but does not lose sight of the unique contributions of individual artists to the movement. The annotated bibliography and biographical addenda offer a rich supplement to the text which contains 224 illustrations." -- Publisher's description