The Triumph of Modernism: The Art World, 1987-2005Widely acknowledged as the most authoritative art critic of his generation, Hilton Kramer advanced his comments and judgments largely in the form of essays and short pieces. Thus this first collection of his work to appear in twenty years is a signal event for the art world and for criticism generally. The Triumph of Modernism not only traces the vicissitudes of the art scene but diagnoses the state of modernism and its vital legacy in the postmodern world. Mr. Kramer bracingly updates his incisive critique of the artists, critics, institutions, and movements that have formed the basis for modern art. Appearing for the first time in greatly expanded form is his consideration of the foundations of modern abstract painting and the future of abstraction. The aesthetic intelligence that Mr. Kramer brings to bear on certain tired assumptions about modernism--many of them derived from methodologies and politics that have little to do with art--helps rescue the artwork itself and its appreciation from the very institutions, such as the art museum and the academy, that purport to foster it. Always clear-eyed and vastly illuminating, Hilton Kramer's art criticism remains among the very finest written in the past hundred years. Readers of The Triumph of Modernism will be treated to an exhilarating experience. |
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Contents
Kandinsky and the Birth of Abstraction | 5 |
My Long Search Is Over | 13 |
Art Revolution and Kazimir Malevich | 29 |
Copyright | |
27 other sections not shown
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abstract art achievement aesthetic already American artist attempt avant-garde become believe called career century certainly claim collection color contemporary course created critical culture decade devoted doubt drawings early effect entire essay established example exhibition experience fact feeling figure future Gallery German given Greenberg ideas important influence institutions intellectual interest Johnson Kandinsky kind late later least less lived longer look Marxism Matisse matter means mind Modern Art modernist MOMA Mondrian movement museum mystical nature never objects observation once organized original painter painting Paris past period Picasso pictorial political Pollock present produced Professor question radical reason remained respect retrospective role Russian avant-garde School sculpture seems seen sense serve social spiritual style thing thought tion tradition turn writes wrote York