Modern Artists on Art

by Robert L. Herbert (Editor)

16 of the 20th century's leading artistic innovators talk forcefully about their work — from Albert Gleizes and Jean Metzinger's 1912 presentation of cubist theory to Henry Moore's comments, three decades later, on sculpture and primitive art. Four newly added essays by Kurt Schwitters, Max Ernst, El Lissitzky, and Fernand Léger.

Genres: Art, Art History, 20th Century

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1964

Reviews

[Iqra Tasmiae]

https://www.brainpickings.org/2020/09...

[AndyDobbieArt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book with some fascinating essays about modernism. Hard going at times, but worth persevering with.

[Brynn]

Read in Spring of 2020 between January and April, don't remember the months, for "Readings", an art class at BYUI.

[Rgarciag · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is nothing like reading the artists themselves, describing the process as well as the aims of the movements that brought attention to their work. Max Beckmann, Henry Moore and Kandinski's have been the most influential for me. The ten essays are the right length. One wonders about the intellectual life of contemporary artists and whether they would be able to be as articulate if given the same task. Perhaps the conceptual artists who have finished their MFA...

[Ed Smiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big variation in quality and readability, from the pretentious to the theoretical to the personal as different artists have different levels of clarity in their writing.

I think I enjoyed Kandinsky's memoirs the best. Unlike his theoretic writings, these resonate with passion and memories with an intense color sense. His theoretic writings are very dry, but useful. This is a very personal free association on his inner development as an artist.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Particularly Reminiscences.. incredible.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this in art college and the ideas spoken about by such artists as Kandinsky, Klee, Malevich and Moore (there are more) were an inspiration.