This book investigates the visual representation of blues musicians and the blues culture in early 20th-century America. Paul Oliver, a renowned blues historian and photographer, draws upon a vast collection of photographs, ephemera, and his extensive knowledge of the genre to analyze how the blues was perceived and documented through visual media.

Paul Oliver's "Screening the Blues" is recognized as a foundational text in the study of blues iconography. The book's rigorous research and insightful analysis of visual materials provide a critical lens through which to understand the complex relationship between the music, its performers, and their representation. It remains an essential resource for scholars and enthusiasts interested in the visual history of American popular music.