David Rosand recounts the transformation of early American painters from provincial followers of the established traditions of Europe into some of the most innovative and influential artists in the world. Moving beyond simple descriptions of what distinguishes American art from other movements and forms, Rosand explores not only the status of artists and their relationship to their work but also the larger dialogue between the artist and society. He looks to the intensely studied portraits of America's early painters, especially Copley and Eakins, and the landscapes of Homer and Inness, among others. Each of these artists grappled with conflicting cultural attitudes and different expressive styles. He discusses the work of Davis, Gorky, de Kooning, Pollock, Rothko, and Motherwell and the subjects and themes that engaged them. Despite the indifference with which it was first met, American art flourished against the odds and founded the aesthetic consciousness that we equate with American art today. In this exhilarating study Rosand unearths the historical and artistic conditions that gave rise to the phenomenon of Abstract Expressionism.