First published in the United Kingdom in 1999 as What is Painting?

ISBN 978-0-500-23973-5
by Thames & Hudson Ltd, 181A High Holborn, London WC1V 7QX
and in the United States of America by
Thames & Hudson Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10110

What is Painting? © 1999, 2017 Julian Bell

Revised edition 2017

This electronic version first published in 2017 by Thames & Hudson Ltd, 181A High Holborn, London WC1V 7QX

This electronic version first published in 2017 in the United States of America by Thames & Hudson Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10110

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form of by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

eISBN 978-0-500-77406-9
eISBN for USA only 978-0-500-77407-6

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On the cover: Katharina Grosse, Untitled, 2016. Acrylic on canvas
299 x 203 (117 11/16 x 79 15/16) Private Collection, Belgium. Photo Jens Ziehe.
Courtesy Gagosian © Katharina Grosse und VG Bild-Kunst Bonn, 2017 © DACS 2017