Offers a unique perspective on the decorative arts of the mid-20th century. This publication focuses on 200 of the finest objects from the most important designers and artists of the time. With some 300 illustrations, these works create a rich and diversified image of the Modern period in design.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Charles and Ray Eames's plywood lounge chair, Isamu Noguchi's Japanese-inspired lamps and Russell Wright's "American modern" dinnerware are among the 200 objects, made between 1935 and 1965, spotlighted in this stunning showcase. The catalogue of a traveling exhibition, this mammoth repository of images and essays redefines mid-century modernism. Historian Johnson sets the stage with an examination of the sociopolitical forces that fostered the democratization of art and the development of a rational aesthetic. Led by Rutgers art historian Eidelberg, 15 scholars track the 1930s and '40s "streamlining" style in locomotives, jukeboxes and clocks, then trace biomorphism in rugs, tables, an Eva Zeisel teapot and Eero Saarinen's TWA terminal at New York's Kennedy Airport. Expressionism is shown to be a common denominator in Peter Voulkos's ceramics, Lenore Tawney's fiber sculptures and Irena Brynner's jewelry. One provocative finding is that modern design, from its inception, has ransacked past historical styles.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Martin Eidelberg has been professor of art history at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, since 1964. Paul Johnson is an historian, and the author of several books, including Modern Times: The World from the Twenties to the Nineties, A History of the Jews, A History of Christianity, and A History of the American People.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Modern in the Past Tense,
This review is from: Design 1935-1965: What Modern Was (Hardcover)
A comprehensive survey of the decorative arts from 1935 through 1965 but unfortunately I was disappointed by the editorial arrangement of this book. It is basically encyclopaedic in nature but the editors decided to split it into the following chapters: Streamline Modern; Biomorphic modern; Modern historicism; Postwar modernism; Modern pattern and ornament; Expressionist modern and finally Beyond Modern. Many of the artists mentioned, of course, easily drop into one or more of these periods. For example, Finnish designer Timo Sarpaneva's work is featured three times, vases from 1950 and 1953 and a 1955 glass decanter, each is pictured and described in detail with additional related information and at the back of the book is his biography. I really feel it would have been more appropriate to have each artist's work and bio in one place and the essays, defining the various styles, together at the front of the book.
I was impressed, though by the range of the artists and designers covered in this survey, not just the fine arts of Miro and Dali but also the graphics of Herbert Matter and Milton Glaser and even the creative contributions of companies like Herman Miller and Polaroid. The authors have rightly considered all aspects of mid-century creativity. The scope of the book is North American and Europe but if you want to concentrate on America have a look at the two volume, 'The American Century: Art and Culture' The American Century: Art and Culture 1900-1950 and The American Century: Art and Culture, 1950-2000 by Barbara Haskell and Lisa Phillips. I found these two books very comprehensive in their coverage and also visually quite impressive to look at with their hundreds of illustrations. Both books are an excellent reference starting point for further study. ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
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