Forbes Watson, art commentator for the New York Evening Post and New York World, was probably best known as the editor of The Arts , the liveliest and most influential art magazine of the 1920s. He quickly gained a reputation as an outspoken ally of progressive American artists and a caustic annihilator of those who got in their way. This charming, confrontational connoisseur, with a knack for offending officialdom, captivated readers and attracted loyal adherents. This same anti-authority streak cost him position after position, however, and ultimately blurred his historical legacy. But Watson's ideas were important and his life was interesting, making him a fascinating subject for this interpretive biography.