From the Studebaker and the Slinky(r) to the TWA terminal and paintings by Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko, 1940 to 1960 was a compelling era for the arts in America. Artists and designers responded to the atomic-age anxieties of the postwar period with "vital" forms-organic imagery and biomorphic shapes based on nature. These forms proliferated during the optimism of the late '40s and '50s prosperity, in Tupperware(r) and the Hula Hoop as well as Eames chairs and Calder mobiles.

Examining visual arts from an interdisciplinary perspective, Vital Forms focuses on the development and ascendancy of organic imagery. Essays placing the works in historical context, hundreds of photos, and an engaging mix of fine art and commercial design make this a must-have for serious art and design enthusiasts and fans of American popular culture.

237 illustrations, 107 in full color, 256 pages, 81/2 x 11"