Organized by artist, the book underscores one of the Whitney's unique characteristics -- its philosophy of collecting in depth, across the boundaries of artistic mediums. Although each artist is represented by at least one illustration, many are represented by works in several different mediums. Brief texts by the Whitney's curatorial staff as well as by outside experts in 20th-century American art set each artist's work within a larger art historical framework.
An introduction by Maxwell L. Anderson, Director of the Whitney, discusses the history of the museum. This elegant book will be required reading for anyone interested in American art.