Joseph Beuys

The Phaidon Focus series presents engaging, up–to–date introductions to art’s modern masters. Compact, affordable, and beautifully produced, the books in this growing series are written by top experts in their field. Each features a complete chronological survey of an artist’s life and career, interspersed throughout with one–page "Focus" essays examining specific bodies of work. Joseph Beuys ranks amongst the most radical and influential artists to emerge during the second half of the twentieth century. An enigmatic figure who was never one to shun controversy, Beuys strove to establish a truly democratic approach towards making and presenting art. Here, Allan Antliff, the Canada Research Chair in Modern Art at the University of Victoria and a founding member of the Toronto Anarchist Free School, explores the origins, development, style, and themes of Beuys’ provocative and prophetic work.