Ross Bleckner, Eric Fischl, and David Salle each came into their own during the 1970s when they graduated from the California Institute of Arts and developed painting styles that would characterize their work for decades to come. This book examines nine paintings and accompanying drawings by each artist made between 1975 and 1985, juxtaposing them in aspects of structure and purpose that have not been previously acknowledged. Featured texts include a reflection by Mary Heilmann, a timeline organized by Witt Kegel and Sarah Silverstein, an analytical essay by David Pagel, and an introduction by Terrie Sultan that draws on intimate interviews in which the artists expound upon their vision and goals in art school, their subsequent move to New York, and the friendship that continues to inspire and motivate each of them in their current homes on Long Island.