The Collected Essays and Criticism, Volume 4
Modernism with a Vengeance, 1957-1969
9780226306247
The Collected Essays and Criticism, Volume 4
Modernism with a Vengeance, 1957-1969
Clement Greenberg is widely recognized as the most influential and articulate champion of modernism during its American ascendency after World War II, the period largely covered by these highly acclaimed volumes of The Collected Essays and Criticism. Volume 3: Affirmations and Refusals presents Greenberg’s writings from the period between 1950 and 1956, while Volume 4: Modernism with a Vengeance gathers essays and criticism of the years 1957 to 1969. The 120 works range from little-known pieces originally appearing Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar to such celebrated essays as "The Plight of Our Culture" (1953), "Modernist Painting" (1960), and "Post Painterly Abstraction" (1964). Preserved in their original form, these writings allow readers to witness the development and direction of Greenberg’s criticism, from his advocacy of abstract expressionism to his enthusiasm for color-field painting.
With the inclusion of critical exchanges between Greenberg and F. R. Leavis, Fairfield Porter, Thomas B. Hess, Herbert Read, Max Kozloff, and Robert Goldwater, these volumes are essential sources in the ongoing debate over modern art. For each volume, John O’Brian has furnished an introduction, a selected bibliography, and a brief summary of events that places the criticism in its artistic and historical context.
With the inclusion of critical exchanges between Greenberg and F. R. Leavis, Fairfield Porter, Thomas B. Hess, Herbert Read, Max Kozloff, and Robert Goldwater, these volumes are essential sources in the ongoing debate over modern art. For each volume, John O’Brian has furnished an introduction, a selected bibliography, and a brief summary of events that places the criticism in its artistic and historical context.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Editorial Note
Foreword by John O'Brian
1957
I. The Later Monet
2. Review of Piet Mondrian: Life and Work by Michel Seuphor
3. Review of Chagall's Illustrations for the Bible by Meyer Schapiro and Chagall by Lionello Venturi
4. New York Painting Only Yesterday
5. Picasso at Seventy-Five
6. Introduction to an Exhibition of Adolph Gottlieb
7· Milton Avery
8. Jackson Pollock
1958
9. Letter to the Editor of Evergreen Review
10. At the Building of the Great Wall of China
11. Introduction to an Exhibition in Tribute to Sidney Janis
12. Introduction to an Exhibition of Barnett Newman
13· Sculpture in Our Time
14. The Pasted-Paper Revolution
1959
15. Hans Hofmann: Grand Old Rebel
16. Introduction to an Exhibition of Hans Hofmann
17· The Case for Abstract Art
1960
18. Modernist Painting
19. Louis and Noland
20. Letter to the Editor of The New York Times
2 I. The Early Flemish Masters
1961
22. The Jackson Pollock Market Soars
23. Letter to the Editor of The New York Times Magazine
24. A Critical Exchange with Thomas B. Hess about Art and Culture
25. Statement as Juror of an Exhibition in Oklahoma City
26. The Identity of Art
1962
27. After Abstract Expressionism
28. Introduction to an Exhibition of Ernest Lindner
29. How Art Writing Earns Its Bad Name
1963
30. A Critical Exchange with Herbert Read on "How Art Writing Earns Its Bad Name"
31. Introduction to an Exhibition of Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, and Jules Olitski
32. Painting and Sculpture in Prairie Canada Today
1964
33. The "Crisis" of Abstract Art
34. A Famous Art Critic's Collection
35. Four Photographers: Review of A Vision of Paris by Eugene-Auguste Atget; A Life in Photography by Edward Steichen; The World Through My Eyes by Andreas Feininger; and Photographs by Cartier-Bresson, introduced by Lincoln Kirstein
36. David Smith's New Sculpture
37. Post Painterly Abstraction
38. Review of Andrea del Sarto by S. J. Freedberg
39. Portrait of the Artist: Review of The Diaries of Paul Klee, 1898-1918, edited by Felix Klee
1965
40. Contemporary Sculpture: Anthony Caro
41. Letter to the Editor of Art International about Morris Louis
42. America Takes the Lead, 1945-1965
43. Introduction to a Group Exhibition in Saskatchewan
44. Letter to the Editor of Artforum about Franz Kline
1966
45. Matisse in 1966
46. David Smith: Comments on His Latest Works
47. Introduction to Jules Olitski at the Venice Biennale
48. The Smoothness of Turner: Review of J. M. W. Turner: His Life and Work, A Critical Biography by Jack Lindsay
49· Picasso Since 1945
1967
50. Manet in Philadelphia
5 I. Jackson Pollock: "Inspiration, Vision, Intuitive Decision"
52. Recentness of Sculpture
53. Seeing With Insight: Review of Norm and Form by E. H. Gombrich
54. Where is the Avant-Garde?
55. Complaints of an Art Critic
56. Critical Exchange with Max Kozloff and Robert Goldwater about "Complaints of an Art Critic"
1968
57. Interview Conducted by Edward Lucie-Smith
58. Poetry of Vision
59. Changer: Anne Truitt
1969
60. Avant-Garde Attitudes: New Art in the Sixties
61. Interview Conducted by Lily Leino
Editorial Note
Foreword by John O'Brian
1957
I. The Later Monet
2. Review of Piet Mondrian: Life and Work by Michel Seuphor
3. Review of Chagall's Illustrations for the Bible by Meyer Schapiro and Chagall by Lionello Venturi
4. New York Painting Only Yesterday
5. Picasso at Seventy-Five
6. Introduction to an Exhibition of Adolph Gottlieb
7· Milton Avery
8. Jackson Pollock
1958
9. Letter to the Editor of Evergreen Review
10. At the Building of the Great Wall of China
11. Introduction to an Exhibition in Tribute to Sidney Janis
12. Introduction to an Exhibition of Barnett Newman
13· Sculpture in Our Time
14. The Pasted-Paper Revolution
1959
15. Hans Hofmann: Grand Old Rebel
16. Introduction to an Exhibition of Hans Hofmann
17· The Case for Abstract Art
1960
18. Modernist Painting
19. Louis and Noland
20. Letter to the Editor of The New York Times
2 I. The Early Flemish Masters
1961
22. The Jackson Pollock Market Soars
23. Letter to the Editor of The New York Times Magazine
24. A Critical Exchange with Thomas B. Hess about Art and Culture
25. Statement as Juror of an Exhibition in Oklahoma City
26. The Identity of Art
1962
27. After Abstract Expressionism
28. Introduction to an Exhibition of Ernest Lindner
29. How Art Writing Earns Its Bad Name
1963
30. A Critical Exchange with Herbert Read on "How Art Writing Earns Its Bad Name"
31. Introduction to an Exhibition of Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, and Jules Olitski
32. Painting and Sculpture in Prairie Canada Today
1964
33. The "Crisis" of Abstract Art
34. A Famous Art Critic's Collection
35. Four Photographers: Review of A Vision of Paris by Eugene-Auguste Atget; A Life in Photography by Edward Steichen; The World Through My Eyes by Andreas Feininger; and Photographs by Cartier-Bresson, introduced by Lincoln Kirstein
36. David Smith's New Sculpture
37. Post Painterly Abstraction
38. Review of Andrea del Sarto by S. J. Freedberg
39. Portrait of the Artist: Review of The Diaries of Paul Klee, 1898-1918, edited by Felix Klee
1965
40. Contemporary Sculpture: Anthony Caro
41. Letter to the Editor of Art International about Morris Louis
42. America Takes the Lead, 1945-1965
43. Introduction to a Group Exhibition in Saskatchewan
44. Letter to the Editor of Artforum about Franz Kline
1966
45. Matisse in 1966
46. David Smith: Comments on His Latest Works
47. Introduction to Jules Olitski at the Venice Biennale
48. The Smoothness of Turner: Review of J. M. W. Turner: His Life and Work, A Critical Biography by Jack Lindsay
49· Picasso Since 1945
1967
50. Manet in Philadelphia
5 I. Jackson Pollock: "Inspiration, Vision, Intuitive Decision"
52. Recentness of Sculpture
53. Seeing With Insight: Review of Norm and Form by E. H. Gombrich
54. Where is the Avant-Garde?
55. Complaints of an Art Critic
56. Critical Exchange with Max Kozloff and Robert Goldwater about "Complaints of an Art Critic"
1968
57. Interview Conducted by Edward Lucie-Smith
58. Poetry of Vision
59. Changer: Anne Truitt
1969
60. Avant-Garde Attitudes: New Art in the Sixties
61. Interview Conducted by Lily Leino
Bibliography
Chronology 1950- 1969
Index