Sebastian Smee

The Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic's gripping account of how political turmoil in Paris from 1870-1871 gave rise to Impressionism. 'Astonishing. A true story which exults in love, courage, beauty, mischief and the mystery of human intimacy.' Annabel Crabb Impressionism remains wildly popular. Crowds flock to exhibitions by its greatest artists—Édouard Manet, Berthe Morisot, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Camille...

In the digital age, are our inner lives disappearing? Renowned critic Sebastian Smee examines the role of the inner life in an era of instant connectivity. We live in an age of constant distraction. Is there a price to pay for this? In this superb essay, renowned critic Sebastian Smee explores the fate of the inner life in the age...

Genius, friend, rival: this is the story of four pairs of artists whose intense relationships spurred and shaped their art. Matisse and Picasso. Manet and Degas. Bacon and Freud. De Kooning and Pollock. Eight of the most significant modern artists; four pairs linked by friendship and a shared spirit of competitiveness. But in each case, the relationship had a flashpoint,...