These are such lovely letters and need to be savored and revisited often. I've been a fan of the Letters of Note series for a while now. I just wish there had been at least one letter by an artist of Asian origin. This is a large region of the world and there are so many amazing artists from the many Asian cultures out there. I hope future Letters of Note editions will include people from Asian cultures as well. Thank you.

This book begins: "Think of this book as a gallery. Better still, a private gallery that fits in your pocket, with no rules to speak of. Yes, you can touch the exhibits. Of course you can take photos with the flash on. And no, you are not required to speak quietly..." That is a fitting way to approach these recorded words, which offer insights into the people who wrote them and the world in which they fit. The letters are also astonishingly relevant to issues today: Native American artist Oscar Howe responds to the prejudiced pigeonholing of his art not being "in the traditional style of Indian painting" and Artemisia Gentileschi pushes back against a client trying to pay her less because she is a woman. Hollis Frampton rails against the MFA for wanting to exhibit his work "for love" and not pay him, a familiar problem for modern artists paid only in exposure.

In sum, this book would be a great addition to any collection of works on art and creativity.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.