The book is an analytical history of key moments in the development of modern art. Based on a series of lectures given in the early 2000s, the book includes a comparative description and analysis of the works of Western (J. Pollock, Andy Warhol, Yves Klein) and Russian, in particular, St. Petersburg (K. Malevich, V. Sterligov, E. Mikhnov-Voitenko, Timur Novikov) artists. Their biographies, histories of artistic movements and new technologies form the main plot of the study. The book is intended for readers interested in the history, theory and philosophy of modern culture. 2nd edition, revised and expanded.