1. Introduction: Words and Pictures; 2. Grand Bazar Universel: Impressionist Words; 3. Merahi metua no Tehamana: Symbolist Words; 4. KUB: Cubist Words; 5. Parole-in-Liberta: Futurist Words; 6. L.H.O.O.Q.: Dada Words; 7. Futura: Constructivist Words; 8. L'Alphabet des reves: Surrealist Words; 9. Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge: Words and Power; 10. Writing Degree Zero: Post-War Words; 11. Intermedia: Neo-Dada Words; 12. Coca-Cola: Pop Words; 13. Art as Idea as Idea: Conceptual Words I; 14. A Heap of Language: Conceptual Words II; 15. The Prison-House of Language: Postmodern Words; 16. Creolization: Millennial Words; 17. Epilogue: Hypertext and Future Words.
Simon Morley is an artist, curator, writer and lecturer. He has published widely, and teaches at the Sotheby's Institute of Art. His paintings have been exhibited internationally.
"An intriguing survey of word-imbued artworks of the modern period, Writing on the wall will surely be a touchstone for readings on the relationship between language and art across time. While filling a gap in the current scholarship on text in art, Morley has crafted in clear, accessible prose, a study that is easily extrapolated beyond modernism, Indeed beyond the fine arts. It is an adventuresome work, and extremely stimulating."