The complex political history of Taiwan has frequently stymied efforts to give Taiwanese accomplishments in fine arts the recognition they deserve. Offering a valuable corrective, this volume collects the writings of leading art historians to showcase 200 years of artistic production in Taiwan, and highlight the diverse issues addressed within these works.

Taiwan’s complex history of rule by foreign powers, compounded by Chinese claims of authority over the island-nation, have challenged efforts to present a coherent narrative of Taiwanese art on the international stage. Collecting the writings of leading art historians, this two-volume work presents over 120 works from 80 Taiwanese artists, thematically organized as a series of “exhibitions”, so readers may appreciate the works within the broader context of the trends and ideas that shaped the evolution of Taiwanese fine arts.

Authors Yen Chuan-Ying and Tsai Chia-Chiu have organized this curated overview to highlight issues such us tradition and modernity, colonialism, the legacies of the Chinese and Japanese painting traditions, nativism and internationalism, the debates surrounding abstraction, the impacts of the cold war and martial law, and shifting gender roles in society. Complete with full-page color reproductions, this rich intellectual and aesthetic journey helps to integrate Taiwanese art into global narratives of art history in the modern era, while also highlighting the distinctive features of the local debates and trends that informed each of the works presented within.