Originally published: 1997.

Imagining a point of origin : Malevich and suprematism -- Decoration and necessity : Mondrian's excess -- The laws of chance -- Poussiere/peinture : Bataille on painting -- The cut -- Bordering on blank : Eva Hesse and minimalism -- Judd's specific objects -- Postscript: Vision and blindness.

This volume introduces abstract painting and sculpture of the twentieth century and explores new ways to think about abstract art and the problems of interpretation it raises. The author speculates on the kind of language required to describe the often tantalizing effects of key abstract works and on ways to discuss critical issues when a work of art is without "subject matter". Each of the ten chapters in the book addresses a particular problem associated with abstract art by focusing closely on specific works produced by such artists as Malevich, Mondrian, Kandinsky, Arp, Miró, Pollock, Eva Hesse, and Donald Judd.