Throughout his career; Philip Gustons work metamorphosed from figural to abstract and back to figural. In the 1950s; Guston (1913--1980) produced a body of shimmering abstract paintings that made him -- along with Willem de Kooning; Jackson Pollock; and Franz Kline -- an influential abstract expressionist of the "gestural" tendency. In the late 1960s; with works like The Studio came his most radical shift. Drawing from the imagery of his early murals and from elements in his later drawings; ignoring the prevailing "coolness" of Minimalism and antiform abstraction; Guston invented for these late works a cast of cartoon-like characters to articulate a vision that was at once comic; crude; and complex. In The Studio; Guston offers a darkly comic portrait of the artist as a hooded Ku Klux Klansman; painting a self-portrait. In this concise and generously illustrated book; Craig Burnett examines The Studio in detail. He describes the historical and personal motivations for Gustons return to figuration and the (mostly negative) critical reaction to the work from Hilton Kramer and others. He looks closely at the structure of The Studio; and at the influence of Piero della Francesca; Manet; and Krazy Kat; among others; and he considers the importance of the column of smoke in the painting -- as a compositional device and as a ghost of abstraction and metaphysics. The Studio signals not only Gustons own artistic evolution but a broader shift; from the medium-centric and teleological claim of modernism to the discursive; carnivalesque; and mucky world of postmodernism.
#4484785 in eBooks 2014-02-20 2014-02-20File Name: B00IZUEFOY
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Informative; but...By CustomerI ordered the digital version but; sound dosent play on any of my devices other wise I would give it five stars.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy JeffVery easy to follow and learn from.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. You will learn a great deal from a simple and basic approachBy Robert ChesneyThese books are beautifully organized. I love the step by step approach with each new song. The strumming patterns and other technical tips really help develop style and broaden your repertoire. Ive been playing and studying the uke for about 2 years--taking classes at the local Osher center along with jam sessions. This book series is by far the best instructional series Ive ever used. Theres a lot to be said about simplicity and basics. I enjoy every time I sit down and approach a new song or turn the page.
