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Abstract Expressionism and the American Experience: A Reevaluation

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No more incisive analysis of the goals and accomplishments of Abstract Expressionism has appeared than that by veteran participant, advocate and scholar of that group of artists, Irving Sandler. Whatever may be one's level of knowledge, understanding or appreciation of the art exemplified by these practitioners, this book can play a role in helping one clarify ones thoughts about the art in general, and, perhaps, attune one better to see in particular paintings what motivated the artist to produce what is before one and what he meant for one to grasp. For the beginner looking at Pollock, DeKooning, Guston, or the other recognized leaders of this school, Sandlers unencumbered style, his clarity of organization and transparency of writing, makes the book a necessary adjunct to putting one in tune with the pictures viewed in private or public gallery. One need not ultimately find their work, in whole or in part, congenial to ones own taste, to sympathize with the social and personal impulses to which they sought to give expression and to appreciate the seriousnes with which they approached their work.
Sandler is now of the senior living generation who were in at the beginning and have been able to see the art movement reach the pinnacle of popular and financial success, to be superceded in part, built upon in part, by newer approaches which have not yet managed, by a long shot, to relegate it to the dust bin of history. Fortunately for his many readers, despite his academic training and long membership in the Academic fraternity, he thinks and writes with rare clarity, informed by far-ranging knowledge.
In short, I commend this book to lovers of any sort of art, who can grant to to the institution of art itself, the right to diversity of approach and merit in the particular, if not always in the general, that is, who can find something of value in a De Kooning or Pollock, without finding much merit in DeKooning or Pollock.

Irving Sandler's ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: A REEVALUATION provides a fine new book offering the author's conclusions about the nature and experience of abstract expressionism in America. College-level collections familiar with the movement will find this provides a fine historical survey of post-World War II art impact and how paintings responded to global events of their times.