Published in conjunction with the large-scale, all-medium, posthumous retrospective of Willem de Koonings career at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), this book offers an unparalleled opportunity to appreciate the development of the artists work as it unfolds over nearly seven decades. Representing nearly every type of work de Kooning made, in both technique and subject matter, this retrospective includes paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints. Among these are the artists most famous, landmark paintings among them Pink Angels, Excavation and the celebrated third Woman series plus in-depth presentations of all his most important series, ranging from his figurative paintings of the early 1940s to the black-and-white compositions of 194849, and from the urban abstractions of the mid 1950s to the artists return to figuration in the 1960s and the large gestural abstractions of the following decade. Also included is de Koonings famous yet largely unseen theatrical backdrop, the 17-foot-square Labyrinth (1946). With lavish, full colour documentation, this volume is the most complete account of de Koonings career ever published.
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'The most comprehensive volume to date on this passionate and prolific modernist pioneer' --The Times
'Art book of the year ... stunning ... as beautiful and fresh as it is scholarly and comprehensive'
--Financial Times
'Art book of the year ... stunning ... as beautiful and fresh as it is scholarly and comprehensive'
--Financial Times
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A well-known and pithy quote popularly attributed to Einstein (probably actually a paraphrase) runs thus 'Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.' They clearly don't teach that in Art History departments! As a graduate of an art history degree myself I can vouchsafe this assertion, at least insofar as my experience goes.
Despite the tendency of some of the writing in this enormous, weighty and magnificently illustrated tome being unnecessarily and sometimes grandiosely verbose and opaque, sift through the verbal peacock feathers and much of what's being said is either valid and pertinent, or at least interesting, and often all three.
It is a shame that art history and criticism can't loosen up and lighten up a bit. I definitely don't ask that it dumb down, but being overly florid for the sake of appearing clever, well, it does smack of pretentiousness, and where one sniffs such pomposity, one naturally wonders if it's a screen for lack of genuine content. Is the emperor, in fact, butt-naked?
Perhaps part of the problem lies in trying to articulate in one medium, words, the effects and ideas brought forth by another, in this instance the visual arts. Einstein once told Tagore that he believed 'The really good music, whether of the East or of the West, cannot be analysed.' I'm not sure I agree, but I do know what he's getting at.... Read more ›
Despite the tendency of some of the writing in this enormous, weighty and magnificently illustrated tome being unnecessarily and sometimes grandiosely verbose and opaque, sift through the verbal peacock feathers and much of what's being said is either valid and pertinent, or at least interesting, and often all three.
It is a shame that art history and criticism can't loosen up and lighten up a bit. I definitely don't ask that it dumb down, but being overly florid for the sake of appearing clever, well, it does smack of pretentiousness, and where one sniffs such pomposity, one naturally wonders if it's a screen for lack of genuine content. Is the emperor, in fact, butt-naked?
Perhaps part of the problem lies in trying to articulate in one medium, words, the effects and ideas brought forth by another, in this instance the visual arts. Einstein once told Tagore that he believed 'The really good music, whether of the East or of the West, cannot be analysed.' I'm not sure I agree, but I do know what he's getting at.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Paris
Format:Hardcover
An incredible reflection on the life and work of one of the greatest painters of the last hundred years. I have read a number of books on this artist and this stands as one of the strongest. Prompt delivery, fair price.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
13 reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The De Kooning bible
29 Sep 2011
By Reich Claude
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is the catalog for the great, albeit belated, retrospective currently held at Moma, supervised by one of the best museum curators in the US, John Elderfield. The illustrations are numerous and of a very good quality (which has not always been the case with Moma's recent publications). Practically all the greatest masterpieces are present (five of the six Women of the early 1950's) and the text breaks new ground insofar as it rehabilitates De Kooning's late period (the paintings of the 1980's, often dismissed by art critics as being the work of a debilitated artist weakened by the effects of dementia) and also traces some previously neglected sources that show how much the artist was translating the mood of his time on the canvas.
Highly recommended and a must-have in any arts library.
Highly recommended and a must-have in any arts library.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
de Kooning: A Retrospective
12 Nov 2011
By hrpandora
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Although there is some "filler" with the same information being presented in different formats(time-lines, periods) the overall content of the survey is outstanding, if a bit overly wordy. The plates are great and numerous and well done. However, they cannot realistically (nor could they be expected to) offer the experience of seeing the works firsthand; the size and scale of most of the works is too large. In sum, if you were unable to get to the show, this book provides an excellent resource in which to appreciate the scope of de Kooning's work.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing exhibit, great book
16 Feb 2012
By Glen
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you are a fan of De Kooning's work, this is a must-have. As someone who visited the exhibit several times, I saw the book in person long before I was able to purchase it, and was somewhat hesitant to buy because it was a bit smaller than I would have liked. However, the more I thought about it, the more I really wanted a nice catalog of such a great De Kooning retrospective. The book arrives shrink wrapped, preventing any cosmetic damage from handling, which is a nice touch. Again, I felt the quality could have been punched up a bit by the publisher (better color fidelity, higher quality paper, the wishlist goes on), so while I was not prepared to purchase the book at full price, Amazon is offering it for a great value, so I bit the bullet, and I'm glad I did.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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