The Baltic States – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – retain strong cultural identities that have survived despite centuries of colonization by powerful neighbouring lands. Following the First World War, a particularly rich period of openness and international artistic exchange unfolded. Modernism in all its forms flourished, not only in painting but in sculpture, printmaking, photomontage and the decorative arts, ranging from the elegant abstraction of Arnold Akberg to the provocative figuration of Karlis Padegs and the experimental photography of Domicele Tarabildiene.

Serge Fauchereau covers all the leading art movements of this period as well as retracing the political background of the Baltic nations, from their time under the Tsars and the German crown to the domination of the Soviet Union. With each country showcased in its own lavishly illustrated section, this is a wonderful guide to a vibrant field in European art history that is often overlooked but deserves rediscovery and a place on the global stage.