Reading the PDF version allows the reader to trace this evolution. You see Rosenberg struggling with the consequences of his own theories. He champions the "New," but he is haunted by the anxiety that the New has become a marketing category.

: Rosenberg views the act of painting as an existential exercise where the artist breaks away from the values of society and the "Great Works of the Past" to create a world within the canvas. Intellectual Scope and Cultural Critique

"The Tradition of the New" is a collection of essays that explore the relationship between modern art and the avant-garde movement. The book is divided into three sections, each focusing on a specific aspect of modern art: the artist, the artwork, and the audience. Rosenberg's central argument is that modern art, particularly abstract expressionism, has become a tradition in its own right, one that is characterized by a rejection of traditional representational art forms.

Despite these criticisms, Rosenberg's ideas continued to influence artists and writers for decades to come. His emphasis on the importance of innovation and experimentation in art helped to shape the development of a wide range of avant-garde movements, from Pop Art to Postmodernism.