Material Imagination: Art in Europe, 1946-72

Material Imagination examines the interrelated concepts of matter, materialism, and materiality in postwar European art, from 1946-1972. In the postwar period, European artistic experiment prioritized material dimensions over concept or context. These eight essays by art historians and scholars bring together exceptional illustrations and new research to provide a unique perspective on this period, while also paying attention to broader theoretical and historical concerns. The essays explore artists’ methods and materials in order to better understand the social and cultural environments in which their works of art were made. Taken together, these essays demonstrate how an emphasis on materials can affect artistic thinking and imagination and lead to a richer and more diverse framework for critical interpretation.