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A New Tome Revisits the 1990s Through an Artful Lens

In The 1990s: A Visional History of the Decade, author Henry Carroll dives deep into the defining moments of the era and finds unexpected parallels in important works

By Alexandria Sillo
People sleeping on the ground surrounded by magazines and debris, wearing casual clothing, in an outdoor setting.
MAYDAY party, Dortmund, 1995. Photo: © Tilman Brembs | Zeitmaschine

The second book in Thames & Hudson’s “Decade” series is here, and with it comes an all-encompassing review of an era defined by grunge, rap rivalries, supermodels, The X-Files, the early Internet, and political scandals. On the pages of The 1990s: A Visional History of the Decade, author Henry Carroll dives deep into the defining moments of the era, including the meteoric rise of “The Spice Girls,” the trial of O.J. Simpson, and blockbuster movies like The Blair Witch Project, and finds unexpected parallels in important works produced during the same years.  

Colorful book cover titled "The 1990s: A Visual History of the Decade" by Henry Carroll, featuring bold "90s" design.
The 1990s: A Visual History of the Decade. Photo: Courtesy of Thames & Hudson
Artistic wavy glass bottle standing on reflective surface with abstract light patterns in the background.
Ross Lovegrove, Ty Nant water bottle, 1999. Photo: © Ross Lovegrove
Sleek futuristic silver chaise lounge with bold red interior, featuring smooth curves and four legs.
Marc Newson, Orgone Stretch Lounge, 1993. Photo: Courtesy Marc Newson Ltd

Carroll’s visual timeline includes Gregory Crewdson’s Untitled (Dead Bird in Tulips) (1992-1997), paired with Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun (1994) cover, a 1993 scene from The X-Files, and a shot from Edward Scissorhands (1990). A People magazine cover unpacking Michael Jackson’s changing appearance appears alongside a scene from Orlan, Omnipresence, reading after The Reincarnation of Sainte-Orlan (7th surgical operation-performance)(1993), and a photo from the infamous 1994 trial of Lorena Bobbitt.

Chocolate sculpture of a man's head with closed eyes, displayed on a reflective surface.
Marc Quinn, Self 1991, (1991). Photo: © Marc Quinn Studio
Black and white portrait of a veiled woman with red calligraphy covering her face, focusing on her expressive eyes.
Shirin Neshat, I Am Its Secret, (1993). Photo: © Shirin Neshat, courtesy of the artist and Gladstone Gallery

To document the explosion of the dotcom era, Carroll includes early Windows software start screens, set alongside the emergence of 24/7 newscasts and celebrities with mugshots. “The internet was here,” Carroll writes. “Opportunity was everywhere. Yet the rules of the game had not been set.” On later pages, the tragic photo of Prince Harry and Prince William walking alongside their father King Charles in Princess Diana’s funeral procession is set next to a scene from 1992’s Reservoir Dogs. A still from the 1998 iconic Sex and the City scene where Carrie Bradshaw was splashed by dirty street water is paired with a photo from Alexander McQueen’s 1999 ready-to-wear show, where Shalon Harlow was spray painted by robots.

Space shuttle docked to a space station above Earth against a black space background.
NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with Russia’s Mir space station, 1995. Photo: NASA
Person in a red top and black leggings performing a headstand on a city sidewalk near parked cars.
Juergen Teller, Domenique, London, 29th September 1998, from the Go- Sees series. Photo: © Juergen Teller, All Rights Reserved

“Crafting a unique visual narrative, The 1990s, the second book in Thames & Hudson’s ‘Decade’ series, reveals a fascinating ecosystem of influence between high and low culture, making sense of the recurring motifs, trends, and themes from this seminal and sometimes strange decade,” says the publisher.