Painter and writer Julian Bell offers original insights into the practice of painting and its enduring significance in contemporary culture. Drawing from a diverse range of artistic sources, from Old Masters to those operating in the margins of present-day discourse, Bell's exploration of painting is lively, informative and more relevant than ever.

Declared "dead" by critics not just once, but several times, painting's continued survival is a testament to its rich traditions and vast creative potential. Delving into the factors that have reshaped our understanding of picture-making over the last two centuries, Bell examines questions of expression and representation, the decline of conceptual art, and new experiments with the physical limits of paint to reveal what makes it such an enduring and timeless medium.