XCURRENTS OF MODERNISM
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism
XCURRENTS OF MODERNISM Details
From Publishers Weekly The catalogue to an exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, this dense volume chronicles the life and art of four Latin American artists--Diego Rivera, Joaquin Torres-Garcia, Wifredo Lam and Roberto Matta--who "worked during the first half of this century to integrate the visual or formalist aspects of European modernism with Latin American themes," writes Fletcher, curator at the Hirshhorn. The artists are profiled biographically by Fletcher in straightforward and informative prose. Following each biographical sketch is a critical--and appreciative--essay about the artist by Oliver Debroise, Adolfo Maslach, Lowery Sims or Octavio Paz, whose lovely poem about Matta also is included. Highlights are Debroise's discussion of Rivera's adoption of Bolshevist ideology and its effect on his artistic identity, and Paz's interpretation of Matta's attraction to Surrealism as "a strong hot wind of rebellion blowing across this icy and cruel century"; Matta, Paz writes, "remained faithful to that subversive and generous impulse." Each artist also is represented by a number of his color plates, and the entire text is in both English and Spanish. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more From Library Journal In the first half of this century, painting was centered in Europe. The centripetal pull of the Spanish and French art worlds brought to Europe four Latin American painters--Diego Rivera, Wifredo Lam, Joaquin Torres-Garcia, and Matta--to participate in the birth of modernism. After varying lengths of time and for various reasons, all returned to the New World to create strongly divergent versions of the orthodox European schools of painting. Written to accompany an exhibition at the Smithsonian, this volume presents a short account of the life and career of each artist along with a critical essay by such luminaries as Octavio Paz and an excellent selection of color illustrations. The coverage of the less well-known Lam, Matta, and Torres-Garcia is particularly valuable. Recommended for art libraries.- David McClelland, Temple Univ. Lib., PhiladelphiaCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more See all Editorial Reviews
Reviews
The book is clean and has A LOT of really good information, but I was hopeful for more and/or better images as I use them in educational power points presentation I appreciated the quick service as well. Thanks so much for the effort.