"Art in America is an introduction to the major movements in American art, from the Hudson River and Ashcan schools to Abstract Expressionism and Pop art. Divided chronologically into six chapters and covering the period from 1700 to the present day, it examines how the art of each era both reflected and contributed to the nation's complex visual narrative. A detailed introduction considers the paradoxes in American art, and six authoritative illustrated essays examine such subjects as the cultural impact of the American Civil War, and the global and national position of American art at the end of the twentieth century." "Featuring a selection of beautifully reproduced iconic and little-known images, Art in America is an exploration of how the cultural, political, ethnic, economic, and natural landscape of America has shaped national identity and consciousness."--Jacket.