Barnett Newman's writings reveal him to be an impassioned and articulate analyst of art and society who never hesitated to make his views known and always stood by them. To understand Newman's unique place in the culture of the twentieth century, we must know both his paintings and his words--a knowledge made possible by this long-awaited volume.

"Barnett Newman [1905-1970] was a thinker who chose to develop his ideas both in painting and in writing. He was also a citizen who made his acts of painting and writing political. And he was an artist."--Richard Schiff, from the Introduction