Clement Greenberg (1909-1994), champion of abstract expressionism
and modernism--of Pollock, Miró, and Matisse--has been esteemed by
many as the greatest art critic of the second half of the twentieth
century, and possibly the greatest art critic of all time. On radio
and in print, Greenberg was the voice of "the new American
painting," and a central figure in the postwar cultural history of
the United States.
Greenberg first established his reputation writing for the Partisan
Review, which he joined as an editor in 1940. He became art critic
for The Nation in 1942, and was associate editor of Commentary from
1945 until 1957. His seminal essay, "Avant-Garde and Kitsch" set
the terms for the ongoing debate about the relationship of modern
high art to popular culture. Though many of his ideas have been
challenged, Greenberg has influenced generations of critics,
historians, and artists, and he remains influential to this day.
John O'Brian is professor of art history at the University of
British Colombia.
"[Greenberg] is widely and rightly regaded as the most important
American art critic since World War II."--Barry Gewen "New York
Times Book Review" (12/11/2005 12:00:00 AM)
With the publication of the first two volumes of Clement
Greenberg's Collected Essays and Criticism, we are at last on our
way to having a comprehensive edition of the most important body of
art criticism produced by an American writer in this century. The
two volumes now available--Perceptions and Judgments, 1939-1944 and
Arrogant Purpose, 1945-1949--bring together for the first time Mr.
Greenberg's critical writings from the decade in which he emerged
as the most informed and articulate champion of the New York School
as well as one of our most trenchant analysts of the modern
cultural scene.--Hilton Kramer "The New Criterion"
With the publication of the first two volumes of Clement
Greenberg's Collected Essays and Criticism, we are at last on our
way to having a comprehensive edition of the most important body of
art criticism produced by an American writer in this century. The
two volumes now available--Perceptions and Judgments, 1939-1944 and
Arrogant Purpose, 1945-1949--bring together for the first time Mr.
Greenberg's critical writings from the decade in which he emerged
as the most informed and articulate champion of the New York School
as well as one of our most trenchant analysts of the modern
cultural scene.--Hilton Kramer "The New Criterion"
[Greenberg] is widely and rightly regaded as the most important
American art critic since World War II.--Barry Gewen "New York
Times Book Review" (12/11/2005 12:00:00 AM)
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