This book is about "eight American artists, each of whom stands for certain aspects of American art and tradition. The book's underlining - and hitherto unexamined - theme between an artist's work - his "voice" and its reception by the public, which tends to comprehend the artist and his work as a "myth," and so provides itself with a special armature whereby the artist's image and body of work become stabilized and accessible."--BOOK JACKET excerpt.