This text investigates the origins of Modernism by examining the geographical reach and enduring influence of the late nineteenth-century Symbolist art movement. Edward Lucie-Smith, a noted art historian and critic, utilizes a comprehensive survey of painters and sculptors to argue that Symbolism served as a critical bridge between nineteenth-century traditions and the emergence of modern artistic practices. By analyzing works from diverse European centers, the author provides a framework for understanding how localized aesthetic movements coalesced into a broader continental shift.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational survey for those seeking to understand the transition into Modernism. Readers frequently note the accessibility of the prose, which balances academic rigor with a clear, chronological overview of the movement's key figures.