Abstraction in the Twentieth Century: Total Risk, Freedom, Discipline

The author of several important titles on contemporary art such as Anselm Kiefer (Prestel, 1987) and, more recently, Critiques of Pure Abstraction: A Traveling Exhibition (D.A.P., 1995), Rosenthal here attempts to summarize abstract art and its influence over the past 100 years. Moreover, he successfully makes this monumental task look astonishingly easy, as he ably translates complex issues into enjoyable prose. He sticks to the facts without losing our interest or filling us only with his opinions. Often, much is said through intelligently placed quotes and visual examples that truly illuminate. A catalog for this spring's exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, this book traces the history of abstract art from Kandinsky, Mondrian, and Malevich to the postmodern period. Whether stemming from spiritual sources, personal expression, or formal concerns, each line of thinking is carefully defined within the context of the artists and their major critics. An excellent survey that will clarify for many just what abstract art is all about; highly recommended.?Susan M. Olcott, Columbus Metropolitan Lib., OhioCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.