Chimneys and Towers: Charles Demuth's Late Paintings of Lancaster [Paperback]

Betsy Fahlman (Author), Claire Barry (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0812220129 | ISBN-13: 978-0812220124 | Publication Date: August 8, 2007

Charles Demuth (1883-1935) was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, into a prominent family in the tobacco business. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and later at the Academie Colarossi and Academie Julian in Paris, where he was first exposed to the European avant-garde. Returning to America after his studies, he participated in the transmission of modern European ideas into American art-along with Georgia O'Keeffe, Demuth was a proponent of Precisionism, a movement that incorporated the clean lines and geometrical forms of Cubism and Futurism into depictions of the American landscape. Chimneys and Towers focuses on Demuth's late paintings of industrial sites in Lancaster. During this period he struggled with diabetes and painted little, but the powerful visual impact of the works he completed belies his diminishing physical strength. Depicting the warehouses and factories of the city's tobacco and linoleum industries in sharp, geometric forms, these paintings show an artist negotiating both artistic and personal identity, bringing to the depiction of his hometown the style of the American avant-garde that he helped create. While scholars have long recognized the importance of these works, Chimneys and Towers offers new perspectives on their initial critical reception, as well as a more complete understanding of the paintings' relationship to Demuth's native Lancaster. Betsy Fahlman also explores in depth the effects of Demuth's failing health on his art, offering previously unpublished correspondence that reveals the central role that Pennsylvania art collector Albert C. Barnes played in extending Demuth's life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...presents a well-rounded picture of the student...underlines the support and encouragement by the great collector Albert C. Barnes. -- Art Times, October 2007

About the Author

Betsy Fahlman is Professor of Art History at Arizona State University and the author of several books, including Guy Pene du Bois: Artist About Town. The exhibition, "Chimneys and Towers: Charles Demuth's Late Paintings of Lancaster", is organized by the Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas. The exhibition and the book written by Betsy Fahlman have been made possible in part by grants from The Henry Luce Foundation and The National Endowment for the Arts,

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (August 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812220129
• ISBN-13: 978-0812220124
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Demuth's region, October 19, 2007

By 

Winston hough "klee fan" (Glenview, Il. United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chimneys and Towers: Charles Demuth's Late Paintings of Lancaster (Paperback)

Charles Demuth painted his native Lancaster. He painted the area with wit and humor.The author places him with the precisionsists, There is more than a little Duchamp in his approach to buildings. "Business" one of the cleverist of his commentaries on work a day life is missing here.There is a thorough discussion of his bout with diabetes.The famous collector Albert Barnes helped him financially to get treatment.Demuth was a close friend of Dr. Barnes.The poet Dr. William Carlos Williams was a friend from early days in Philadelphia.Charles was esteemed for his taste,intellect as well as his artistic acumen.I could do without the history of diabetes ,but it does put Demuth in a sympathetic light.The lightness of his work relates to his slight physical stature.Diabetes cure happened con-currently with his life. The development of Masonite board occured at the same time as the period of his working life. There is a thorough discussion of his materials and techniques.. It shows how he developed his boards with sketches of his subjects. There are some of the sketches illustrated. There are color reproductions of all of the works in the exhibition ,that will be on display until 2008. The repros are first rate. I liked some of the watercolors reproduced here. More abstract than any I have seen, I have most of the hardback books of Demuth.Demuth is worthy of study.This catalogue adds needed information on this early American Artist.Demuth admired Marin( he spilled buckets but I never spilled a drop) Demuth I prefer... there is a dadaist in his soul. He was a friend of Stuart Davis : I would think they shared an enthusiam for sketchbooks.In a final note the author states that his work in watercolor gave strength to his color sense . That gave him confidence to carry out a series of oils. He was always struggling to improve his art.