This book is a foundational reference on northern Northwest Coast Indigenous art. Through his careful studies, Bill Holm described this visual language using new terminology that has become part of the established vocabulary that allows us to talk about works like these and understand changes in style both through time and between individual artists' styles.

Foreword / Robin K. Wright and Kathryn Bunn-Marcuse -- Artists' Reflections: Evelyn Vanderhoop, Joe David, Nathan Jackson, Robert Davidson -- Preface to the 50th Anniversary Edition -- Preface to the Original Edition -- Historical Background -- Symbolism and Realism -- Uses of Two-Dimensional Art -- Elements of the Art -- Principles of Form and Organization -- Conclusions -- Appendix.