The Shape of Content by Ben Shahn
American painter Ben Shahn sets down his personal views of the relationship of the artistpainter, writer, composerto his material, his craft, and his society. He talks of the creation of the work of art, the importance of the community, the problem of communication, and the critical theories governing the artist and his audience.
The book is the clearest, most forceful statement on art by an artist of our time that I have read-- Frank Getlein * New Republic *
To find a lucid painter speaking lucidly of art is a thrilling discovery… [He traces] the formation of painting from idea to completion, both generally and specifically with a clarity of thought and a precise use of language which should be a very archetypal model for all critics and painters alike. * Virginia Quarterly Review *
A remarkably interesting book, which puts the reader in rewarding contact with a questing mind and a humane spirit. * The Atlantic *
[Shahn] sets forth his views on both the practice and the purposes of art with a clarity, cogency, and incisiveness that any professional writer might envy, and he manages to interweave with this a good deal of interesting material about his own development as an artist, as well as a running summary of his opinions on contemporary painting in general…the book is highly controversial…also highly stimulating. * New Yorker *
Points made in the collection are pertinent, lucid and most readable. A valuable addition to the appraisal of the condition of the arts. * Kirkus Reviews *
To find a lucid painter speaking lucidly of art is a thrilling discovery… [He traces] the formation of painting from idea to completion, both generally and specifically with a clarity of thought and a precise use of language which should be a very archetypal model for all critics and painters alike. * Virginia Quarterly Review *
A remarkably interesting book, which puts the reader in rewarding contact with a questing mind and a humane spirit. * The Atlantic *
[Shahn] sets forth his views on both the practice and the purposes of art with a clarity, cogency, and incisiveness that any professional writer might envy, and he manages to interweave with this a good deal of interesting material about his own development as an artist, as well as a running summary of his opinions on contemporary painting in general…the book is highly controversial…also highly stimulating. * New Yorker *
Points made in the collection are pertinent, lucid and most readable. A valuable addition to the appraisal of the condition of the arts. * Kirkus Reviews *
Ben Shahn (1898–1969) was an American painter, lithographer, and photographer. His work, commenting on major social issues such as racial discrimination, labor conditions, and the threat of atomic warfare, has been featured in retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780674805705 |
| ISBN 10 | 0674805704 |
| Title | The Shape of Content |
| Author | Ben Shahn |
| Series | The Charles Eliot Norton Lectures |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Harvard University Press |
| Year published | 1992-01-01 |
| Number of pages | 144 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |