Rethinking Andrew Wyeth

by David Cateforis (Editor), Wanda M. Corn (Contributor), Alexander Nemerov (Contributor)

Andrew Wyeth is one of the best loved and most widely recognized artists in American history, yet for much of his career he was reviled by the art world’s critical elite. Rethinking Andrew Wyeth reevaluates Wyeth and his place in American art, trying to reconcile these two opposing images of the man and his work.

In addition to surveying the American critical reception of Wyeth’s art over the seven decades of his career, David Cateforis brings together a collection of essays featuring new critical and scholarly responses to the artist. Donald Kuspit’s compelling psycho-philosophical interpretation of Wyeth exemplifies the possibility of new approaches to understanding his work that move beyond the Wyeth “curse,” as do those of the other contributors to this volume―from the close analysis of Wyeth’s technical means offered by Joyce Hill Stoner, to the adventuresome interpretive readings of individual Wyeth paintings advanced by Alexander Nemerov and Randall C. Griffin, the considerations of Wyeth’s critical reception in historical context offered by Wanda M. Corn and Katie Robinson Edwards, and the connections of Wyeth to other canonical artists such as Francine Weiss’s comparison of him to Robert Frost and Patricia Junker’s linkage of Wyeth and Marcel Duchamp.

Rethinking Andrew Wyeth includes an appendix with data from visitor surveys conducted at the Wyeth retrospectives in San Francisco in 1973 and Philadelphia in 2006. Illustrated throughout with both iconic and lesser-known examples of Wyeth’s work, this book will appeal to academic, museum, and popular audiences seeking a deeper understanding and appreciation of Andrew Wyeth’s art through its critical reception and interpretation.  

Edited by David Cateforis, with essays by David Cateforis, Wanda M. Corn, Katie Robinson Edwards, Randall C. Griffin, Patricia Junker, Donald Kuspit, Alexander Nemerov, Joyce Hill Stoner, and Francine Weiss.

This volume’s release coincides with an exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 2014, Andrew Looking Out, Looking In .

Genres: Art

248 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 2014

Reviews

[Liam Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethel Cain supremacy

[Tracee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art itself was not the main focus of this book, so that was disappointing. Also, what struck me was Andrew’s strive to perfect his painting of the female nude, in so many angles and poses.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a painter myself, when I was young and in art school I visited my first Wyeth exhibit. It confirmed and deepened my appreciation for the painter, giving me strong impetus to maintain a higher level of patience and effort in my own work. I wanted to read this book primarily to see the experts words and interpretations of his pieces. I have maintained a lifelong high opinion of Wyeth, and a lesser interest in many of the art movements that followed him. To some degree, I guess it's a good thing I was not aware of the negative attitudes that developed about the artist and his work in the early 1970's.

I was very disappointed to read the many negative critiques included in this book. While I understand that as an academic investigation, covering the major commentary of the top art critics of the times, over a period of time, the author was required to include many of these comments, it was SO demoralizing to read the assasination attempts of these writers for Wyeth personally and his work. About 1/3 of the way through the book I almost put it down and stopped reading it was so upsetting.

In the latter part of the book there is more interesting reading regarding the various techniques used by Wyeth and other realists akin in style. There is also more commentary by the author on his style that, while not negative about Wyeth, seemed quite obtuse and unnecessarily convoluted.

I have decided that many art critics do a great disservice to the artists and exhibits they write about, serving whatever interests or movements they are currently enamored of. Their very personal barbs and long-winded invective often seem to have little relation to the images being discussed. The nasty comments seemed mainly intended at either keeping the public from going to the exhibits or supporting the artist in other ways. It seems a very poor way to make a living.

While many interesting facts are included in this writing, unlike many of the other Wyeth books I have read, this is not one I will be returning to to read again. While the author had no choice but to include the negative comments, in sum I don't think this book forwards a deeper perspective in time appreciation for the artist and his work. It could have added more understanding and appreciation, but in my opinion, didn't do that. The author's commentary could have been more constructive and useful.

Size of type in this book, about 10 points, made it very difficult to read without magnifying reading glasses.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rethinking Andrew Wyeth” describes the artist’s history of work with in-depth discussions and the relevant paintings to illustrate the text. For example, in the discussion about “Christina World”, we learn that “When Wyeth painted Christina’s World, post-World War II American was witness for a burgeoning middle class as well as an explosion of consumer goods. . . . In contrast, Christina and her brother seems to have stepped out of the pages of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, a world in which American individualism was defined by struggle.”

The book is a wonderful addition to any art lover’s collection. Not only would you gain an in-depth understanding of Wyeth’s work, but a real appreciation of his composition process when you view one of his paintings in person.

Thank you GoodReads for the book !

[Erin Lowrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I did not know anything about Andrew Wyeth before receiving this book. I really enjoyed this beautiful art book. I thought the author did an excellent job of exploring critics opinions of the artist's work. I highly recommend this book.