- Paperback: 156 pages
- Publisher: Distributed Art Pub Inc (Dap) (September 1992)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0854880925
- ISBN-13: 978-0854880928
- Product Dimensions: 27.9 x 22.9 x 1.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 703 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
Richard Diebenkorn is an expanded edition of Gerald Nordland's authoritative study of the painter, first published in 1987 and now reissued by Rizzoli, a leading publisher of fine-art books. Diebenkorn, who died in 1993, long ago entered the pantheon of great modernist artists. He was an early abstract expressionist, then went through a less successful stage of figural painting. Abruptly changing direction in the late 1960s, he rediscovered abstraction in an extraordinary series of grandly conceived paintings titled "Ocean Park," produced over a span of nearly 20 years. With strong vertical and diagonal constructions serving as structure for large areas of fresh, lyrical color, the elegant juxtapositions and satisfying geometry of "Ocean Park" make it his masterpiece; almost half this oversize book is devoted to the series. Nordland's descriptions and analyses of the paintings, based on 40 years' study of Diebenkorn's life and work, guide the reader to a deeper understanding of the painter's intentions and achievements. The text is clear, straightforward, and largely convincing, though there is surprisingly little comparative material by other artists. Graceful, understated design that complements the paintings, and extremely sensitive color reproduction, make the book itself aesthetically satisfying and a pleasure to look at. This new edition of Richard Diebenkorn maintains the book's status as the definitive study of one of America's most influential 20th-century artists. --John Stevenson
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Library Journal
This is a first monograph on a major modern American painter most often associated with the rise of Abstract Expressionism in the 1940s and 1950s. Nordland knows his subject; the text is celebratory, and perhaps not as critical as desirable, but the insights are succinct. Portraying Diebenkorn's achievements chronologically, it includes discussion of his alternative work in the figurative mode. The text focuses largely on visual description of the painter's themes, but the excellent plates and exhibition history attest to the artist's "master" status. Well designed for academic library use, whether for studio or art historical research, the book is also a viable, if expensive, option for general collections since Diebenkorn's work is found in many museums. Paula A. Baxter, NYPL
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Skim the text, look at the reproductions,
This review is from: Richard Diebenkorn (Hardcover)
There's a lot of unnecessary verbiage in this volume. Much of the text is devoted to paragraphs describing Diebenkorn's paintings, along the lines of "Patches of strong, clear colors are linked in the lower half of the canvas" or "The off-centered vase of poppies leans slightly to the right". All of this is unnecessary-I can see all of this for myself in the reproductions in the book, as can any reader-the author is not calling attention to small but telling details which might be overlooked and making an insightful analysis about them, but is rather stating the obvious. In fact there is almost a complete absence of in-depth analysis or criticism.Like many artists, Diebenkorn's life was largely uneventful, consisting rather of the steady routine of the daily journey to the studio, the patient (or sometimes impatient) hours of work, the occasional studio visits by fellow artists (in this case fellow Bay Area figurative painters David Park and Elmer Bischoff) and the return home until the pattern is repeated the next day. The most significant episodes in Diebenkorn's biography consisted of geographical relocations-from his native Bay area to New Mexico and Illinois, a brief sojourn in New York, and his return to California. Each environment had a significant impact on Diebenkorn's painting style. There's a lack of in-depth analysis but again, much padding to little effect. While third-party sources are quoted, I was left wanting more information about what those studio conversations entailed. I wanted a more in-depth analysis of the effects of environment on painting style. Discussion of figurative painting in the context of Abstract Expressionism is a missed opportunity. What this monograph requires is fewer generalities, more succinct editing, and more analysis. So skim the text, and skip the painting descriptions, in order to get an outline of Diebenkorn's life and the general progress of his painting, and then sit back and enjoy the large, well-done reproductions of his work. Diebenkorn's opus can be divided into three periods and all are well documented. The paintings, after all, are what matters.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Impresssive accounting of the artist and his work.,
This review is from: Richard Diebenkorn (Hardcover)
A thorough accounting of the artist and his life. Lovely collection in full color plates of the different phases of his works. Although the represented works are not a complete collection they are well worth the price of the book.Anyone reading this book will walk away with a good understanding and visual memory of what the artist gave the art world.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.9 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews) 32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS IS THE ULTIMATE DIEBENKORN BOOK,
By T. Smith "ty smith art" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Richard Diebenkorn: Revised and Expanded (Hardcover)
For anybody that likes the work of Richard Diebenkorn, this is a must have. The reproductions and text are top quality. I have many of books on Diebenkorn and this one is by far the most complete and professional. It lays out all the development and changes in his work including many reproductions of drawings and studies that most of his books do not include. A must have for any young painter or collector.
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Impresssive accounting of the artist and his work.,
By "artisticventures" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Richard Diebenkorn (Hardcover)
A thorough accounting of the artist and his life. Lovely collection in full color plates of the different phases of his works. Although the represented works are not a complete collection they are well worth the price of the book.Anyone reading this book will walk away with a good understanding and visual memory of what the artist gave the art world. 11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exemplary art book,
By Claude Reich - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Richard Diebenkorn: Revised and Expanded (Hardcover)
One of the best art books I have read so far. The reproductions do justice to this master of color, virtually unknown outside the U.S.and, as a French reader,thanks to this book, I discovered one of the most impressive achievements in recent modern art: the Ocean Park series which Diebenkorn painted in the late 60's and early 70's. The other aspects of his oeuvre are, in my opinion, not as imposing, but to understand an artist, it is necessary to have a global vision of his output, and this is what this book manages to give.
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