Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect

by Henry Adams, Karen Baumgartner, Chris Crosman

An insightful and essential new survey of Wyeth’s entire career, situating the milestones of his art within the trajectory of 20th-century American life 

This major retrospective catalogue explores the impact of time and place on the work of beloved American painter Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009). While previous publications have mainly analyzed Wyeth’s work thematically, this publication places him fully in the context of the long 20th century, tracing his creative development from World War I through the new millennium.
 
Published to coincide with the centenary of Wyeth’s birth, the book looks at four major chronological periods in the artist’s career: Wyeth as a product of the interwar years, when he started to form his own “war memories” through military props and documentary photography he discovered in his father’s art studio; the change from his “theatrical” pictures of the 1940s to his own visceral responses to the landscape around Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and his family’s home in Maine; his sudden turn, in 1968, into the realm of erotic art, including a completely new assessment of Wyeth’s “Helga pictures”—a series of secret, nude depictions of his neighbor Helga Testorf—within his career as a whole; and his late, self-reflective works, which includes the discussion of his previously unknown painting entitled Goodbye, now believed to be Wyeth’s last work. 

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published June 27, 2017

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Henry Adams is an art historian and professor of art history.

Reviews

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am fortunate to live in the Brandywine Valley of Chester County, PA. The artist Andrew Wyeth spent half his time each year living nearby, painting the local people and landscapes. After visiting the centennial exhibition at the Brandywine River Museum, I wanted to spend more time with the art that was on display. This volume reproduces all the works and more. Each chapter is focuses on a different aspect of Wyeth's life and art. It's not as good as seeing the artwork in person, but if you can't visit Chadds Ford, PA before September 17, 2017 when the exhibition closes, this is an excellent alternative.

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 / 5.0

EXCELLENT DUET OF THEMATIC TEXT AND SUPPORTING PICTURES. MINOR INTRUSION OF OVERDONE ANALYSIS. RECOMMEND VIEWING FOLLOWED BY BOOK FOLLOWED BY SECOND VIEWING. BOOK ELUCIDATES EASILY OVERLOOKED DETAILS AND SYMBOLISM EMBEDDED WITHIN WORKS.

[Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great images of his paintings. Being from the same part of the country, Southeastern Pennsylvania, I have a long time interest in the work of the Wyeths. This is a nice collection of Andrew's work plus extensive text which I did not read this time, but might later.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've long enjoyed Andrew Wyeth's paintings. After reading "A Piece of the World," I wanted a book that simply showed his various works. But this book hooked me with its excellent explanations of context in Wyeth as an "illustrator of his own life."

[Sarah Daniluk · Rating 5 out of 5]

His works are haunting, incredibly realistic and capture moments of life most often overlook. Even if you don't have access to this book, please look up Andrew Wyeth.

[Rinku · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about Andrew the person and how his life impacted his art.

[Tracee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure American talent