The Fragment: An Incomplete History

critical reviews of books, exhibitions, and projects in all areas and periods of art history and visual studies
published by the College Art Association

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June 9, 2010

William Tronzo, ed. The Fragment: An Incomplete History Issues and Debates. Los Angeles: Getty Publications, 2009. 232 pp.; 57 color ills.; 40 b/w ills. Cloth $50.00 (9780892369263)

Jonah Siegel

CrossRef DOI: 10.3202/caa.reviews.2010.61

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What is the meaning of the guillotine? The question crossed my mind as I read through the material that makes up this heterogeneous yet fascinating volume, along with some others: What is the ethical weight of dismemberment? How much of pain and loss survives in the remains of broken things, how much of a thrilling sense of freedom? The Fragment: An Incomplete History, which contains ten essays written by scholars of art history, archaeology, literature,...