Always Looking

Exploring the essence of "American" art, the collection features John Updike's insightful essay "The Clarity of Things," which served as the Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities for 2008. The following fourteen essays delve into significant American and European artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries, examining artists such as Copley, Monet, and Magritte. Accompanied by over 200 full-color reproductions, this compilation invites readers to perceive art through Updike's discerning perspective, celebrating the beauty and complexity of visual expression.