From Mondrian’s bold geometric forms to Kandinsky’s use of symbols to Pollock’s “dripped paintings,” the richly diverse movement of abstract painting challenges anyone trying to make sense of either individual works or the phenomenon as a whole.

John Golding makes a powerful case that at its best and most profound, abstract painting is heavily imbued with meaning and content.

Through a blend of biography, art analysis, and cultural history, “Paths to the Absolute” offers remarkable insights into how a sense of purpose is achieved in painting.