Discovered Lands, Invented Pasts: Transforming Visions of the American West

This handsome book presents a major reinterpretation of western American art of the past three centuries-from the depictions of Indians by early explorers to the monumental landscapes of Albert Bierstadt to the vibrant images of Georgia O`Keeffe-reevaluating it from the perspectives of history, art history, and American studies.

Published in conjunction with an exhibition organized by the Yale University Art Gallery and the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, this book takes an interdisciplinary look at the art of the American West. In seven essays illustrated with examples from the exhibit, contributors from the fields of history, art history, and American studies examine significant Western artists of the last three centuries. Three themes emerge: discovery, erasure, and invention. The book achieves the goal declared in its subtitle by revealing a transforming vision of the West created by Euro-American artists. Recommended for most art collections, especially those with an emphasis on the American West.
- Terri P. Summey, Emporia State Univ. Lib., Kan.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.