Contemporary Painting in Context

The essays collected in this volume examine the transformation and expansion of the field of painting over the last decades in relation to the more general lines of development in contemporary culture and visuality. They pose questions like: How do paintings present themselves to us today; how are they 'framed' experientially, institutionally and culturally? In which way can paintings of today be said to reflect and reflect on the historical transformations of culture, visuality and image production and consumption? Is it possible to explain some of the changes and extensions of the field of painting by placing it in the wider context of cultural history or visual culture studies?

The book is divided into five parts, with each of them pursuing a distinct line of inquiry: The first part examines how painting can be situated in a wider cultural context, the second how the question of the ontology of painting can be rethought from a contemporary perspective, and the third explores how 'painting' can be defined today by taking into consideration that the discipline has assimilated a wealth of new means of expression and materials. The essays in the two last parts of the book address issues with strong political implications: Part four focuses on the role of gender in painting while part five addresses the complex relationship between painting, art institutions and the art market.