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CLEMENT
GREENBERG
(1909-1994)
"... At this same party [a] friend introduced the then comparatively young art critic Clement Greenberg... Marianne seemed to be familiar with his writing and said, on shaking hands, "Oh, the fearless Mr. Greenberg." -- Elizabeth Bishop in Efforts of Affection: A Memoir of Marianne Moore
Clement Greenberg was the greatest art critic of the second half of the 20th century--possibly the greatest art critic of all time. This, of course, is arguable and will remain so, as some of the comments may suggest..
This site may not convert Greenberg's detractors, though it may controvert their claims; it presents the opinions of friends, admirers, and sometime critics as well as selections from Greenberg's own writing. Material will be added as it becomes available.
My thanks for support from Greenberg's many friends and especially from his widow, the late Janice Van Horne.
Thanks, in advance, to readers, students, and art lovers. — Terry Fenton
(c) Copyright of Clement
Greenberg's writing is property of the Clement Greenberg estate and
may not be reproduced without permission.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Greenberg
on Greenberg a brief
autobiography from 1955
On Modernism and the Avant Garde
Avant
Garde and Kitsch (1939)
Modernist
Painting (1960)
Avant
Garde Attitudes (1968)Modern
and Postmodern
(1979)Cross-Breeding
of Sculpture 1952. A masterly
historical overview Collage,
(1959) the pre-eminent essay on Cubism, the
seeds of abstraction, and assemblage. Required
reading.Hofmann
(1961) a seminal essay on Hans Hofmann, the
great and still underappreciated master
Influences
of Matisse (1973) Catalogue text from
an exhibition at Acquavella Galleries, New York Detached
Observations (1972) on
the history of art Interview
(1978) Robert
McLaughlin Gallery, re: 1957 Toronto visit and studio practice.
Autonomies
of Art (1980) Life
and art, morality and art, the place of art -- includes link to
RealAudioArt
Criticism (1981)
On the State of Criticism, from Partisan
Review Taste
(1983)
Text (plus Real Audio) of a talk at Western Michigan
UniversityInterview
(1991)
From The
Edmonton Review,
1996
by
Clement Greenberg. the
book -- out of print for 50 years!
ABOUT (AND RELATED TO) GREENBERG
The
Man Who Loved Pictures, 1994 a memorial tribute by Terry Fenton
Greenberg
the Critic, 2001. An overview by Terry
Fenton
The
Unconditional Aesthete, by Darby Bannard,1987, a discussion of
Greenberg's contribution
In
The Studio by Sir Anthony Caro, Nov. 2000. Includes link to new
Caro web site.
Soulmates
in Art by Peter Harris, Oct 2001. Greenberg and an Australian
painter.
The
Veteran Critic by Neil Marshall, Nov. 2000. Judgment; manners,
good & ill.
Clement
Greenberg by Kenworth Moffett, 2014. Critical assessment by
former friend and colleague.
Clement
Greenberg, a Memoir by Tim Hilton, from the New Criterion
archive, Sept. 2000
by John Link. Is decadence upon us?
The
Slippery Slope of Hope -- please send us yours...
GREENBERG,
KANT AND CONTEMPORARY AESTHETICS
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A seminar held June 1-3 2007 at Emma Lake, Saskatchewan, sponsored by the Department of Philosophy at the University of Saskatchewan. The papers by teachers and students of aesthetics from Canada and the United States proved to be serious and sympathetic, a far cry from Greenberg's treatment by the art world during his lifetime. Selected papers from the workshop have been published in a special issue of AE: The Canadian Aesthetics Journal devoted to the workshop proceedings. |
The
Greenberg I Knew, 2007. Keynote
address to the Kant/Greenberg seminar by Terry Fenton
Review
by Helen Frankenthaler of The Harold Letters from
Partisan Review
ON “CLEMBASHING”
... a tone of flattery incurs the stigma of servility and earns the contempt of readers, but they open their ears to malicious criticism, since malice makes a show of independence. -- Tacitus
Journalism
101... 1998 a review by Piri Halasz of
Florence Rubenfeld's Clement
Greenberg Greenberg, A Life
Greenberg
in the 40s; his Critics in the 80s by Piri Halasz. A detailed
examination.
A
Critic and His Critics: the Reception of Clement
Greenberg: A Life by Karen
Wilkin
Rubenfeld
Aftermath by Terry Fenton
Against
Clembashing by Peter Harris -- the phenomenon isn't confined to
North America.
Against
Clembashing Beyond Revisionism: Reconsidering Clement Greenberg's
Cold War Politics by Sheila Christophedes
CLEMENT GREENBERG: A CRITIC'S COLLECTION
The Portland
Art Museum acquired Greenberg's art collection, which consists
primarily of gifts from artists, and organized a traveling exhibition
drawn from it. The museum's "past exhibition" site contains
a provocative selection of works from the collection. It's well done
although incomplete and not always well selected. A
must see.
Catalogue available in
book format, text by Karen Wilkin.
Please feel free to contact us. Comments, anecdotes, articles, and queries are welcome.
TERRY FENTON |
Writing on art |
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Includes writing by Darby Bannard and John Link. A rich, well designed site with many links to others. |
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From the Mayor's Doorstep by Piri Halasz |
A monthly/bimonthly column of criticism and comment about the current art scene. |
webmaster: Terry
Fenton
www.sharecom.ca/fenton/
