Tracing the Modern

A prestigious, international collection of modern art, including major examples of impressionist, post-impressionist, and postwar art, published together for the first time.

As the first comprehensive survey of the museum’s modern art collection, this volume celebrates the greatest and most iconic artworks housed within the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel’s first art museum, founded in 1932. This groundbreaking volume delves into the worlds of impressionism, post-impressionism, German Expressionism, and postwar art in Europe and America, where transformative figures like Renoir, Cézanne, van Gogh, Gauguin, Soutine, Modigliani, Monet, Picasso, O’Keeffe, Pollock, and Chagall converge to shape the captivating visual landscape.

The carefully curated selection of 140 masterworks spans painting, sculpture, works on paper, and photography—thoughtfully arranged from 1880 to 1989—provides an intimate understanding of the progression of modern art through time. Crafted by art historians and curators, the accompanying text introduces newfound scholarship and insightful perspectives, illuminating the narrative behind each artwork. Iconic works include Munch’s Madonna lithograph, Picasso’s Woman with a Red Underskirt, Lichtenstein’s Tel Aviv Museum Mural, Rothko’s Number 24, and O’Keeffe’s Bleeding Heart.

For those seeking a profound immersion into Tel Aviv’s unparalleled collection or an exploration of modern art’s evolution, this volume is destined to become a cherished and enduring survey for art enthusiasts worldwide."The book represents a hope that, in the words of John Paulson (who writes one of the book’s introductory notes), “you will visit one day to see the collection in person.” For those who already revere the collection, “this book will remind you of the wonderful art you have previously seen.” In this manner, Tracing the Modern also symbolizes the museum’s resilient future." — THE NEW CRITERIONHillary Reder is assistant curator of modern art at Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Tania Coen-Uzzielli is director of Tel Aviv Museum of Art. She was previously head of curatorial services at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.