Arshile Gorky: The Implications of Symbols [Paperback]

Harry Rand (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 18, 1991

Harry Rand's critically acclaimed study of Gorky's brief, troubled life and artistic development is finally available in paperback.
All of Gorky's major themes are touched on and his major paintings dealt with in some depth, with attention to the details of the individual works, and frequently to the drawings and preliminary studies from which the paintings evolved. The discussion centers on the images that united the pieces as they develop from work to work. Rand explores Gorky as well as possible sources and their relationship to the body of Gorky's art. A concluding chapter reassesses Gorky's impact on the New York School in light of a new understanding of his aims and methods.
Through close study of Gorky's oeuvre, the author deciphers an iconography revealing the unexpected and systematic use of explicit ideas and symbols as well as commonplace objects, settings, and personas from the artist's life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"So sweeping is Mr. Rand's interpretation of Gorky's oeuvre, and so convincing his argument on its behalf, that it instantly makes virtually all other commentaries on the artist obsolete. . . . [This] book is now the indispensable work."--Hilton Kramer, "The New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Harry Rand is Curator of Twentieth-Century Painting and Sculpture at the National Museum of American Art. He is a contributing editor for Arts Magazine; the author of Manet's Contemplation at the Gare Saint-Lazare (California, 1987) and Paul Manship (Smithsonian 1989).

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (November 18, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520063457
• ISBN-13: 978-0520063457
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #655,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacking Visual, January 8, 2002

By 

davidmattingly (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arshile Gorky: The Implications of Symbols (Hardcover)

Harry Rand's Book "The Implication of Symbols" is indeed well-written and full of important information. Furthermore, his interpretation of the symbolic aspects of Gorky's work as it relates to his life is competent stuff. But here's where to start with a book on visual art: how many paintings does the book show, and of these, how many are in color. An art book discussing artwork that is either not shown in the book, or that is shown only in black and white (when a colorplate is crucial), is a frustrating read. At $..., one expects more than 15 color plates, some of which are poorly reproduced. I'm grateful for the information Mr. Rand provides, but greatly disappointed at the amount of work reproduced in what could otherwise be a complete presentation of the artist and his painting.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Readable Analysis, September 6, 2005

By 

L. Haines (San Anselmo, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Arshile Gorky: The Implications of Symbols (Paperback)

A well structured thorough analysis of the formal derivations, composition and media techniques of this extremely important artist. One always wishes for endless illustrations so that the reader could extend the engaging search of motives revealed in the analysis. There are easily enough illustrations here to tempt you. An excellent companion to any illustrated collection of the artist's paintings and drawings.