This work investigates the origins, evolution, and cultural significance of the New York School of painters during the mid-20th century. Dore Ashton, a prominent art critic and historian, utilizes her extensive personal knowledge of the artists and primary source documentation to argue that the movement was a distinct, cohesive response to the socio-political climate of post-war America.

Experts frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intellectual climate of the New York School. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of the movement's theoretical underpinnings.