Ian Dunlop is a writer and former art critic for the Evening Standard. His first book, The Shock of the New, about seven historic exhibitions of modern art, was published in 1972. It was followed by books on Van Gogh, and on the life and art of Edgar Degas (1979). He has also written books and articles on contemporary American and British art and has contributed reviews and art criticism to The Times, Studio International, Apollo, The Times Literary Supplement and The Spectator.