Charles Harrison here traces the history of female subjects as they began to gaze out of the picture to confront and engage their viewers. Combining conceptual history with telling investigations into the details of specific works, "Painting the Difference" deciphers the implications of sexual difference for the development of nineteenth- and twentieth-century art.In considering works by artists such as Renoir, Degas, Picasso, and Matisse, as well as Rothko, Warhol, Cindy Sherman, and others, Harrison incorporates elements of cultural criticism and social history into his arguments. Generous color illustrations permit the reader to test the author's claims against the works on which they are based.Rich with detail and compelling analysis, "Painting the Difference" offers cutting-edge interpretation by one of the most respected teachers and theorists of modern art.