World of Variation is not a manifesto nor philosophical treatise, but a verbal/visual essay exploring existing conditions in both long-established and emerging societies from local, national, and global perspectives.

To avoid the cultural baggage inherent in realistic photographs and other realistic imagery, Thomas McNulty and I developed an abstract visual language to convey the conceptual ideas in World of Variation.

Each “visual” is identified in its caption with its author, date, and transcription of text, if any, on the original image.

The 23 sketches included in the book are shown their original color on this website, as well as 139 visuals relating to but not included in the book. The final selection of visuals in the original World of Variation edition was made by George Braziller’s staff.

The reader/viewer can use the website display to reference the contents in World of Variation and find further interconnections.

-Mary Otis Stevens