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World of Art
20th Century Ceramics
Potters long ago left behind the notion that pots must be purely useful or merely pleasant everyday objects. At the turn of the twentieth century, ceramics―as in other media in both the decorative and fine arts―underwent revolutionary change. The potter emerged from the anonymity of the workshop and made more individualistic statements in clay than ever before.
Ceramics have kept pace with, or even led, new movements in art, from art nouveau, art deco, the Bauhaus, and futurism, through abstract expressionism, pop and performance, to land art and installation art. Stylistic and technical influences are considered here in context, from orientalism and color theory to modernism, postmodernism, and the profuse diversity of approaches that characterizes the end of the century.
The scope is wide, taking in developments in Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, the United States, and Japan. The work of exceptional individuals is appraised, including Taxile Doat, Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper, Bernard Leach, Isamu Noguchi, Hans Coper, Lucie Rie, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Peter Voulkos, and Adrian Saxe. The relation of ceramics to other disciplines is given close attention: sculptors, such as Antony Gormley and Tony Cragg, and even architects, including Frank Gehry, have made ceramics central to their practice.
This comprehensive survey provides invaluable background and commentary on leading practitioners, critics, theorists, and pioneers, illuminating the development of an art form that seized and inspired the imagination of artists and the public alike in the twentieth century. 180 illustrations, 80 in color
Ceramics have kept pace with, or even led, new movements in art, from art nouveau, art deco, the Bauhaus, and futurism, through abstract expressionism, pop and performance, to land art and installation art. Stylistic and technical influences are considered here in context, from orientalism and color theory to modernism, postmodernism, and the profuse diversity of approaches that characterizes the end of the century.
The scope is wide, taking in developments in Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, the United States, and Japan. The work of exceptional individuals is appraised, including Taxile Doat, Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper, Bernard Leach, Isamu Noguchi, Hans Coper, Lucie Rie, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Peter Voulkos, and Adrian Saxe. The relation of ceramics to other disciplines is given close attention: sculptors, such as Antony Gormley and Tony Cragg, and even architects, including Frank Gehry, have made ceramics central to their practice.
This comprehensive survey provides invaluable background and commentary on leading practitioners, critics, theorists, and pioneers, illuminating the development of an art form that seized and inspired the imagination of artists and the public alike in the twentieth century. 180 illustrations, 80 in color
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 24, 2003
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About the author
Edmund de Waal
53 books409 followersEdmund de Waal describes himself as a 'potter who writes'. His porcelain has been displayed in many museum collections around the world and he has recently made a huge installation for the dome of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Edmund was apprenticed as a potter, studied in Japan, and read English Literature at Cambridge University. 'The Hare with Amber Eyes', a journey through the history of a family in objects, is his most personal book.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/edmund...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/edmund...
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 6, 2022
It’s an excellent book to an introduction to the art of ceramics. From the late 19th century to artist still working in the 20th century the author guide us to what made these artist unique and how their thumb print was left in the world of ceramics.
As a lover of such art, I found this book useful as a gateway to numerous names and places and time period that involved ceramicist and artist working with clay. Loved this book and hopefully they add a new chapter of the 21th century, from 2000 to 2020.
As a lover of such art, I found this book useful as a gateway to numerous names and places and time period that involved ceramicist and artist working with clay. Loved this book and hopefully they add a new chapter of the 21th century, from 2000 to 2020.
December 29, 2024
Edmund de Waal's 20th Century Ceramics is not merely a book about clay—it is an intellectual odyssey into the modern history of ceramic art, a medium often relegated to the periphery of fine art discourse. De Waal, himself a potter and writer of exceptional sensitivity, brings to the subject a dual perspective: as both practitioner and historian. The result is a text that is both deeply informed and passionately argued, offering readers a nuanced understanding of ceramics’ evolution over the past century.
Historical Depth and Thematic Structure
The book is organized thematically, allowing de Waal to traverse the globe and various aesthetic movements with agility. Beginning with ceramics' position at the cusp of modernism, he tracks how artists like Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada elevated the craft from domestic functionality to an art form that engages with philosophical, cultural, and social questions. This thematic structure, rather than a strict chronological approach, reflects the cross-pollination of ideas and techniques that characterize 20th-century ceramics.
De Waal’s discussion of studio pottery’s dialogue with industrial ceramics is particularly compelling. He frames the tension between the handmade and the machine-made as emblematic of broader anxieties about authenticity in the modern age. This analysis situates ceramics within the broader context of 20th-century art movements, drawing parallels with the Bauhaus, abstract expressionism, and conceptual art.
An Artist's Eye
De Waal’s artistic expertise infuses the text with an acute sensitivity to materiality. His descriptions of glaze, texture, and form are evocative and tactile, almost as if he invites the reader to run their hands over the vessels he describes. For instance, his analysis of Lucie Rie’s bowls captures their quiet elegance while also unraveling their technical mastery. In such moments, de Waal transcends the role of historian, becoming a translator of the unspoken language of ceramics.
Global Perspectives
One of the book’s strengths is its global scope. De Waal pays homage to Japanese, Korean, and African ceramic traditions, resisting the Eurocentric gaze that has often dominated art history. He also acknowledges the often-overlooked contributions of women in ceramics, such as Rie and Viola Frey, whose work redefined the medium’s boundaries. This inclusivity underscores de Waal’s argument that ceramics, as a global art form, embodies the intersection of cultures and histories.
Critical Engagement
De Waal does not shy away from engaging critically with his subject. He examines the challenges ceramics face in being accepted as fine art, noting the persistent marginalization of the medium despite its profound artistic contributions. His critique is incisive yet hopeful, as he argues for a reevaluation of ceramics’ place in contemporary art discourse.
20th Century Ceramics is a masterwork of scholarship and artistry. De Waal has crafted a narrative that is both erudite and accessible, making the book an essential resource for scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts alike. It challenges readers to rethink the cultural and aesthetic significance of ceramics, urging us to see these objects not as mere vessels, but as profound expressions of human creativity and history.
This book is not just about ceramics; it is about how art, craft, and life are inextricably intertwined—a testament to the enduring power of making in a fractured modern world.
Historical Depth and Thematic Structure
The book is organized thematically, allowing de Waal to traverse the globe and various aesthetic movements with agility. Beginning with ceramics' position at the cusp of modernism, he tracks how artists like Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada elevated the craft from domestic functionality to an art form that engages with philosophical, cultural, and social questions. This thematic structure, rather than a strict chronological approach, reflects the cross-pollination of ideas and techniques that characterize 20th-century ceramics.
De Waal’s discussion of studio pottery’s dialogue with industrial ceramics is particularly compelling. He frames the tension between the handmade and the machine-made as emblematic of broader anxieties about authenticity in the modern age. This analysis situates ceramics within the broader context of 20th-century art movements, drawing parallels with the Bauhaus, abstract expressionism, and conceptual art.
An Artist's Eye
De Waal’s artistic expertise infuses the text with an acute sensitivity to materiality. His descriptions of glaze, texture, and form are evocative and tactile, almost as if he invites the reader to run their hands over the vessels he describes. For instance, his analysis of Lucie Rie’s bowls captures their quiet elegance while also unraveling their technical mastery. In such moments, de Waal transcends the role of historian, becoming a translator of the unspoken language of ceramics.
Global Perspectives
One of the book’s strengths is its global scope. De Waal pays homage to Japanese, Korean, and African ceramic traditions, resisting the Eurocentric gaze that has often dominated art history. He also acknowledges the often-overlooked contributions of women in ceramics, such as Rie and Viola Frey, whose work redefined the medium’s boundaries. This inclusivity underscores de Waal’s argument that ceramics, as a global art form, embodies the intersection of cultures and histories.
Critical Engagement
De Waal does not shy away from engaging critically with his subject. He examines the challenges ceramics face in being accepted as fine art, noting the persistent marginalization of the medium despite its profound artistic contributions. His critique is incisive yet hopeful, as he argues for a reevaluation of ceramics’ place in contemporary art discourse.
20th Century Ceramics is a masterwork of scholarship and artistry. De Waal has crafted a narrative that is both erudite and accessible, making the book an essential resource for scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts alike. It challenges readers to rethink the cultural and aesthetic significance of ceramics, urging us to see these objects not as mere vessels, but as profound expressions of human creativity and history.
This book is not just about ceramics; it is about how art, craft, and life are inextricably intertwined—a testament to the enduring power of making in a fractured modern world.
November 20, 2014
Great overview. A hard subject to narrow to such a small volume. I think if the author/editors narrowed the subject to 20th century American Ceramics it may have made for a less disjointed read. Incorporating heavy-hitters in the paint-centric art world into this volume, may help bring academic perspective and interest to this amazingly interesting complex field of study. Nice job, well illustrated.
September 3, 2012
Good overview with visuals
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews