This book accompanies a large traveling exhibition spanning Rego's entire career since the 1960s, focusing on work that addresses humanity's moral challenges, particularly in the face of violence, poverty, political tyranny, gender discrimination, and bereavement. The selected images, which include previously unseen paintings and works on paper by the artist's family and close friends, reflect Paula Rego's perspective as an empathetic, courageous woman and an advocate of justice.

The book includes substantial text by exhibition curator Catherine Lampert that considers Rego's work as a whole and draws on the artist's own interpretations and revelations of individual works, and appreciations of the artist's accomplishments by acclaimed young American writer Kate Zambreno. and Irish writer Sally Rooney.

Paula Rego is one of the most recognized Portuguese artists worldwide, her realistic and provocative paintings have as one of the central elements the role and condition of women in contemporary society, as well as all the universes that surround her. The artist uses captivating imagery and dark symbolism to create unsettling narrative frames that challenge the established order and undo the social and sexual codes embodied by family, religion and state. Loaded with unique psychic and emotional drama and magical realism, her works express what it is to be human – and a woman in particular – and to live under the oppressive hierarchies and controlling mores of patriarchal society.