That the tradition of the still life never left art for good, only changed in dramatic and often unforeseen ways, is the contention and reason behind this succinct and stimulating volume. Assembled here are works by forty of the most important artists of the last Five plus decades, including Francis Bacon, George Baselitz, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Joseph Beuys, Donald Baechler, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Gilbert & George, David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons, Claus Oldenburg, Henri Matisse, Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol. The definition of the still life as presented by these artists has expanded sometimes to the breaking point, but also represents one of the true unifying elements of modern and postmodern art.