Andrew Wyeth: Autobiography [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Andrew Wyeth (Contributor), Thomas Hoving (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1995

This lavish volume reproduces 138 tempera, drybrush, and watercolor paintings by Wyeth--the most comprehensive retrospective of the artist's work ever produced. But what makes this book truly extraordinary are Wyeth's comments about each painting--an autobiography, told through interviews with Hoving, that offers fascinating facts about Wyeth's life and art.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Here, the legendary American realist painter looks back at six decades of his work. This comprehensive retrospective that originated in Japan and is now on view in Kansas City, Missouri, includes both famous and recent paintings. An artistic independent, Wyeth pictures a different view of reality than does, say, Norman Rockwell. Thomas Hoving introduces the book and observes that Wyeth "has always painted for himself." Thus, Wyeth's comments on the origins and events of each painting are of particular interest. The quality of the printing is very good, avoiding the pitfalls of too much high contrast and loss of shadow detail in the pictures. But best of all are the stories Wyeth tells. Sure to appeal to both general and informed readers, this is recommended for the autobiography and art collections of public and academic libraries.?Andy Murphy, Charleston P.L., S.C.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The most popular and the most accomplished twentieth-century American realist painter after Edward Hopper serves up as his autobiography not a prose narrative but an exhibition of his work that spans his entire career, from an oil of a man plowing his fields that was painted when the artist was 16 (in 1933) to a 1993 watercolor of a whale's rib lying on a Maine island shore. One hundred thirty-seven artworks in all appear, and for each one, Wyeth offers a note about its subject, the circumstances that spurred him to paint or draw it, and the feelings, values, and experiences he associates with it. The notes vary greatly in length; some fill most of a page, while others are only a sentence or two. They are frank, concrete, and personal, and Wyeth admirers may find them almost as worthwhile as the splendid gallery of his work that they accompany. Ray Olson

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Bulfinch; 1st edition (September 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821221590
• ISBN-13: 978-0821221594
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 10.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #475,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Are you a realist?, October 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Andrew Wyeth: Autobiography (Paperback)

Of all the Wyeth artists, Andrew is the most prolific and most lauded. If you wonder why, read this book. The idea is simple: A picture and a reminisience. Thomas Hoving conducted a series of interviews with Andrew and placed the artist's insight into his own work next to the work itself. The format is as austere and magnificent as the paintings themselves. The plate qualities are excellent and all of the pieces are shown in their entirety. This is not an autobiography of Andrew's life but rather a penetrating look into sixty years of peerless artistry. The book contains no detail plates nor does it attempt to explain Andrew's often cryptic commentary, but it takes you into the mind and soul of the artist. Delight in this. It is a treasure.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A biography in pictures, May 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Andrew Wyeth: Autobiography (Hardcover)

This is a book that will give any Wyeth fan pleasure. When I finally got a copy, it was wish fullfillment. To see 138 of the artist's works with his own comments is a great pleasure. And some of the comments are quite provocative! The prints are top quality and follow the artist's career chronologically. The book also includes a personal chronology of Andrew Wyeth's life, as well as exibitions and a bibliography for those who want to know more. Definitely a keeper!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best, April 3, 2005

By 

little mockingbird "oh oh" (in the deep south) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Andrew Wyeth: Autobiography (Hardcover)

My teacher introduced me to Andrew Wyeth's paintings and drawings about a year or two ago. I've been in love with his work ever since. It's just how beautiful his linework is and how he brings life to the paintings. That is so incredibly rare. There are plenty of portrait artists out there, but I can't think of one that impresses me as much as he does. I think this is because of how well he knew his subjects.

He said drawing with pencil helped him get to the core of a thing. If you've ever drawn or painted people and animals from life, as he did, it increases the appreciation for his work one hundred fold. I also think that this is why his paintings and sketches are so full of life - you just don't get that from a photo, there is NO comparison. His landscapes blow me away every time, and I'm not really a fan of landscape paintings. Something about the solitude of it all just takes me in.

My favourite is Night Sleeper, which is on the cover. His palette is just beautiful, i don't really think it's muted or drab - the closer you look, the more colours you see. How he played colours in juxtaposition, so that they glow, is another part that gives his work such intensity and life.

The comments beside all the work are, as people have mentioned, very good. The entire book is one of those slow joy books. It's just nice to sit with it and turn the pages slowly and take in every thing.