The Essential: Grandma Moses

by Jane Kallir

Describes the life and work of Anna Mary Robertson Moses, the American folk artist commonly known as "Grandma Moses."

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

112 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice quality book in terms of paper and printing. Paintings by Anna Mary Robertson Moses “Grandma Moses”(1860-1961) are throughout, and this book focuses on her career as an artist. The nickname Grandma Moses was a local nickname the press picked up on when she began to garner attention for her painting.
My favorite paintings in the book are “Taking in the Laundry” (1951) because it tells a story of a moment while depicting everyday life, and “Halloween” (1955) which shows bygone traditions like girls dressed as ghosts, bobbing for apples, and boys playing pranks on the roof of rattling a cart full coals to make scary noises and stuffing pumpkins down the chimney.
While there is interesting information in this book, the style is reminiscent of a text book and the lack of transition between sections and general lack of flow made it difficult to read continuously. It delivers an experience more like visiting a museum exhibition, than the cohesive narrative one expects from a book.
Moses had a rough rise to fame, her folk art dismissed in a world that only respected works by academically trained artists as opposed to those who were self-taught. Those willing to take a risk on the genre were unwilling to invest in her due to her age—she began painting in her 70s. However, her penchant for painting real life and fond memories of days gone by struck a cord with people in the wake of World War II. Her style was about lack of identifying details, making her people become symbolic. Eventually, a Hallmark began licensing her work for Christmas cards, and the assumption that commercial success and true art are mutually exclusive was another challenge to her work being recognized by the art world.
She had started working with needlework, suck as creating pictures from worsted wool, but it was too hard on her arthritic hands, so she switched to painting. But the texture she used in her painting was influenced by this. Buds on trees look like French knots, fences like back-stitched wool, etc.
I think Moses’ technique has an interesting parallel to today’s use of Photoshopped compositions. She kept files of illustrations, such as lithographs published by Currier & Ives. She’d cut them out, arrange them on a board, and trace the outline to get the general shape, then paint. Similarly, book covers and other works are often created by assembling stock images, and blending them together into a cohesive scene.

[Bob Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clear reasoned explanation of Grandma Moses and her unique impact on the art world. Very small, lots of great illustrations, and written by someone with inside knowledge and appreciation.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mom liked this 112p mini-format title. It was easy to hold, had minimum text while speaking of her life and techniques, and lots of clear, full-color examples of her work. There was also an example of her fiber arts.

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this as a basis for a Coffee Club program at the library. Easy format to use--basic information without too much reading, interesting anecdotes, good representation of paintings. Note: it is a small book, not the usual coffee table size art book.

[Jim Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review at www.newsoutherngentleman.goodreads.com- link avaialable at my author page here at Goodreads.