Introduction

The introduction presents the main concepts of the book by discussing the phenomena of contemporary art markets, such as Art Basel, and philanthropic institutions such as the Poetry Foundation, in the context of the history of art collecting and institution making. The introduction historicizes the bureaucrats and spaces to be examined in chapter 1 by exploring precursors, in particular, the practices European art dealer Joseph Duveen and the land history of New York City. It also lays out how terms such as property, immaterialism, and materialism and frameworks such as conceptualism and scientific management will be thought of together. In thinking about land history, philanthropy, and the relationship between labor history and aesthetic movements together, the introduction displays the scope of the monograph. It also provides descriptions of the chapters.