Christine's review of The Painted Word (original) (raw)

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Christine's Reviews > The Painted Word

The Painted Word by Tom Wolfe

The Painted Word
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I found this little book squished in between two big art books in the library. It hadn't been checked out in years and looked like it needed a friend. I had just finished the very long NINTH STREET WOMEN, a book chock full of detail about the evolution of the New York art scene in mid century America, and here in my hand was the antidote. This small gem is a frolic through time and style, from late Cubism, through Abstract Expressionism, Pop, Op, Minimalism, Reductionism, and on into Conceptual Art. Wolfe confesses that he has looked at much of this art in puzzlement and, after an aha moment, bounces through his theorum that the emperor is, in fact, not wearing any clothes. No matter what your opinion of any style of art may be, this funny book about the small, elite, world of art, and about his feeling that the critics are the true drivers, may enhance what you see when next you walk into a gallery or museum. What are those big explanatory placards and often mystifying descriptions of the reason for being of individual works doing there anyway? And which came first......the art or the theory? Does the theory describe the art, or did the artist paint the words?!

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Reading Progress

November 23, 2019 –Started Reading

November 23, 2019 – Shelved

November 24, 2019 –Finished Reading

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