An active and outspoken, sometimes a cantankerous, participant in the life of San Francisco and the West, painter Maynard Dixon (1875-1946) developed enduring themes: the majestic western landscape, the mysticism of the Native American, and (briefly, during the Great Depression) people caught in the grip of economic and social hardship. Profusely illustrated with numerous new images of paintings and other artwork, this book traces the emergence of Dixon as a transitional figure in the art history of America. Poems, letters, and essays written by Dixon support his responses to the dynamic changes in American art from the early decades of the twentieth century.

Donald J. Hagerty has organized numerous museum exhibitions and is a frequent lecturer for libraries, museums, and galleries. He is the author of many publications on Maynard Dixon and other historic and contemporary artists, including a biography, The Life of Maynard Dixon, a companion to this newest publication. He lives in Davis, California.