Experience the creative explosion that transformed American art; in the words of the artists; writers; and critics who were there: In the quarter century after the end of World War II; a new generation of painters; sculptors; and photographers transformed the face of American art and shifted the center of the art world from Paris to New York. Signaled by the triumph of abstraction and the ascendancy of painters such as Pollock; Rothko; de Kooning; and Kline; this revolution generated an exuberant and contentious body of writing without parallel in our cultural history. In the words of editor Jed Perl; ldquo;there has never been a period when the visual arts have been written about with more mongrel energymdash;with more unexpected mixtures of reportage; rhapsody; analysis; advocacy; editorializing; and philosophy.rdquo; Perl has gathered the best of this writing together for the first time; interwoven with fascinating headnotes that establish the historical background; the outsized personalities of the artists and critics; and the nature of the aesthetic battles that defined the era. Here are statements by the most significant artists; and major critical essays by Clement Greenberg; Susan Sontag; Hilton Kramer; and other influential figures. Here too is an electrifying array of responses by poets and novelists; reflecting the free interplay between different art forms: John Ashbery on Andy Warhol; James Agee on Helen Levitt; James Baldwin on Beauford Delaney; Truman Capote on Richard Avedon; Tennessee Williams on Hans Hofmann; Jack Kerouac on Robert Frank. The atmosphere of the time comes to vivid life in memoirs; diaries; and journalism by Peggy Guggenheim; Dwight Macdonald; Calvin Tomkins; and others. Lavishly illustrated with scores of black-and-white images and a 32-page color insert; this is a book that every art lover will treasure.
#2674038 in eBooks 2014-07-31 2014-07-31File Name: B00MLD1EO0
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A great reads; more than meets the eye.By VoltaireA great read. Christopher Welles Feder (the first daughter of Orsen Welles) really impressed me as a person; an extremely intelligent person with the soul of an artist. One can view this book as a look at Orsen Welles. I view it more of a study of the need of children to have a relationship with their parents and the importance of real parenting. A bit sad but in the end I think she is at peace with herself and her father. One should note; Christopher was the creator of an extremely popular educational material which is still a best seller and money maker; the Brain Quest series so she carried her fathers love of the word and found a great outlet. She has also been extensively involved in honoring her father and his work. I really liked Ms. Welles Feder.9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Deeper Than ExpectedBy Glenn HoppMost people will probably take up this book for its information about Orson Welles; looking perhaps for anecdotes and comments not previously mentioned by biographers of Welles; and that type of detail is here; but mainly a reader notices the discernment and depth of the discussion and especially how the author realizes that her intense; rare moments with her father must be cherished and gleaned for all the guidance and nurturing they can offer. It is smart to frame the material about her father in the broader context of Chris Welles Feders own life--probably the only way a really good book (as opposed to a shallow; gossipy one) could come about. As so many other reviewers have rightly said; this book is a deep and pleasant surprise from beginning to end. I dont recall seeing any other review making this next claim; but I have read many books about Orson Welles; and even though this one frankly depicts his shortcomings (as well as his many endearing; laudable traits); I think he would have proudly approved of this book. He was too deep and too candid a person not to.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The sins of the fathersBy ilprofessoreIn this case; did not pass on to the daughter. Books about father-sons/ father-daughters are always affecting; and this one is a particularly moving tale of how one such abandoned child lost; and won; and lost her fathers love. Great artists; as Orson was; are often great narcissists. When they are not adoring themselves in lake or mirror; they can charm others; none so susceptible as a young daughter lost and found. What distinguishes Chris books from so many similar tell-alls is that her father; a larger than life figure literally and physically; is not depicted as a monster; but as an infallible man so taken up with a lifetime of futile pursuits to raise money to direct that he had little time for anyone else; let alone his adoring daughter. Chris came to understand this; and rather than take the obligatory plunge into drugs and alcohol; she moved on bravely; eventually marrying a good man; unlike her father; and creating her own life. It can be done. That might be the moral of this absorbing story.
