British artist, designer, and critic Simon Morley applies a framework for interpretation to the enigmatic, fluid, and multifaceted world of contemporary art—one that blends rigorous systematization with the spirit of children’s play. He examines the work of twenty masters and stars of modernism and postmodernism—ranging from Henri Matisse to Bill Viola—through seven simultaneous perspectives, treating each artist as both a subject of close, respectful study and a target of skeptical critique. An engaging introduction to analyzing the artistic experience, *Seven Keys to Modern Art* also serves as a kind of vaccine against the blind worship of idols.