The Rise of the Sixties: American and European Art in the Era of Dissent

by Thomas E. Crow

One of Thomas Crow’s most influential titles, The Rise of the Sixties , first published in 1996, provides an excellent overview of the major themes and figures in one of art history’s most radical and complicated decades. Presenting an international array of artists against the background of world events in the 1960s, Crow portrays the ways in which the American art scene—including such key figures as Leo Castelli, Eva Hesse, Jasper Johns, Robert Morris, Robert Smithson, Cy Twombly, and Andy Warhol—fit into the corresponding European and international movements of the time, among them Situationalism, Conceptualism, Feminism, Environmentalism, and Op Art.

Generously illustrated with 120 images, 80 of which are in color, the newly available book encompasses all the major players in the art world of the 1960s and examines how they influenced and inspired one another. The author’s fascinating new afterword examines the themes of the 60s in the context of recent historical, political, and cultural events.

Genres: Art History, Art, Nonfiction, History

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[James Kenniff]

Does well in narrativizing a Western art canon that responds at once to itself and to a socio-political context, most specifically covering New Left opposition to the Vietnam War, a touch of feminist praxis and entirely cursory mentions to the Civil Rights Movement. I'm not sure if a single Black artist is even mentioned in the text. Gives incredible influence to Jasper Johns which is expected for such an account but is still irritating, that man actually says nothing. Generally dense writing but rewardingly so, with additional rewards in the foregrounding of art dealer/world dynamics as structuring the concepts and form of their art and artists. I'm thinking particularly of Crow's account of how Minimalists' practical dependence on traditional gallery spaces fueled a more domineering, masculine culture and mode of art-maker brimming the Manhattan nightclub Max's Kansas City, with Dan Flavin as an example. Unfortunate, I didn't know that, and this subordinated his stature in my eyes. This book also quite raised my perception of Dr. Christine Mehring, who covered this book's main themes with more vibrancy (and sometimes depth) in, like, 40 minutes.

[Tamara]

I just finished 'The Rise of the Sixties', and I barely remember it. Yes, the book was well written, and probably interesting to others, but not to me. I found it really hard to concentrate on what was being said, and did not connect or like much of the art discussed. The sixties was never my favorite decade anyways, however it was such a wild time I had to check it out in more depth. As an art newbie, I discovered Anthony Caro who I now really like (apparently he is THE modernist sculptor and super famous), but not much else appealed to me. I think I would appreciate this more if I was further educated on the different manifestos and artistic intentions mentioned in the book.

[Alli]

GO TOM CROW!! I did a project in my second semester in graduate school where I had to read the entire ouvre of an art historian. I chose Thomas Crow and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

[diderot]

pithy, yet really excellent overview of modern art up to the neo-dada period. gives the necessary vocabulary and context to reference works from these movements in discussion with works made since. that being said, it is a concise review geared toward readers already a bit familiar with these artists; but it is also indispensable - providing particularly useful graphics and historical tables that help situate an art-historical argument whenever one might need a refresher.

[Mario]

wen libro salu2 jaja

un libro tremendamente orientador, un antes y un despues en mi mapa mental sobre la historia del arte, contextualiza muy bien sobre las formas contemporaneas de arte, que a originado estos nuevos procesos, se complementa muy bien con la lectura de Joseph Kosuth, "el arte despues de la filosofia" (art after filosophy and after)

[Carlos Valladares]

oral exams

[Jennifer Coster]

A little college nostalgia. He's better in person tho

[Anterobot Garcia]

Great historical overview.