Donald Judd: Colorist [Hardcover]

Dietmar Elger (Author), Donald Judd (Author), Martin Engler (Contributor), William Agee (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2, 2000

Up till now, the question of color has largely been neglected in the extensive reception of [Judd's] oeuvre. This publication, lavishly illustrated with full-page color pictures, concentrates in detail for the first time on this crucial aspect of Donald Judd's work.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Hatje Cantz Publishers (April 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3893228780
• ISBN-13: 978-3893228782
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,967,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars review of Donald Judd Colorist, September 23, 2000

By 

Lane Banks (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Donald Judd: Colorist (Hardcover)

A book which offers an exploration of an often neglected aspect of Judd's oeuvre, this series of essays questions the long-standing acceptance of critical writing regarding Judd's work in particular and Minimalism in general. Expanding his role as more than a strict formalist, these writers portray Judd as a sensualist and illusionist. Pointing out Judd's beginnings as a painter, and Judd's own pronouncements that he considers himself to be a painter, the collection of essays denies the limited definition of Judd's work offered by most critical writing as strictly formal, anti-illusionist, geometric, repetitious, and industrial in manufacture and material. Instead, these writers note the highly reflective surfaces of brass or aluminum Judd employs to effectively dissolve the forms themselves through their multiple reflections of adjacent surfaces.

Judd's use of color is emphasized through comparisons with the late career pasted papers of Matisse. The concept is offered that when Judd cuts the colored plexiglass so often incorporated in his work, he is literally cutting color the way Matisse did his colored paper cut-outs. Many of Judd's box sculptures utilize reflected color from the translucent plexiglass that often gives the smooth metal surfaces the illusion of being painted.

Fittingly, Judd himself is given the final word. In his essay "Some aspects of color in general and red and black in particular" (1993), Judd discusses in introductory terms his obviously complex color theories, influenced by years of research into the writings of theorists and other artists. Interestingly enough, Judd spends a good deal of time discussing his use of space, which he claims as largely uncharted territory, except in his own work. This focus on the spatial aspect of Judd's work is somewhat at odds with the other essayist's insistence on color as a dominant feature of Judd's oeuvre.

Judd reveals his concept of red and black as a two-color monochrome, and other ideas of how colors and values may be thought of in pairs. Judd states that he had difficult decisions to make for his late polychrome objects, as he wanted the color combinations to be neither harmonious nor disharmonious, but rather have them all "present at once."

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars judd rocks, December 3, 2000

By 

Jon (Sac Town) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Donald Judd: Colorist (Hardcover)

i bought this book cause i didnt really know anything about donald judds work. he had been mentioned to me at school, and after getting this book i am blown away by judds works. this book is filled with incredible pictures of his sculpture, if you ever get the chance, go see this stuff in real life, its even more amazing !

7 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If colour is the Question ?, May 26, 2000

By 

Alan Becker (Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Donald Judd: Colorist (Hardcover)

Donald Judd has always showed colors in a different perspective, using canvas that you can almost smell, touch and fall in love with These book its a master piece that will make all your sences explode.