Edvard Munch (World of Art) [Paperback]

Josef Paul Hodin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 1985 | Series: World of Art

Long before the first theories of psychoanalysis were formulated, Edvard Munch (1863-1944) became the pioneer of an art which discovered and depicted the inner conflicts of modern man.

The initiator of the movement known as Expressionism, Munch's work was greeted with indignation and incomprehension. But by 1902 he had achieved recognition in artistic circles on the Continent and was considered a leader of the new art.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (February 17, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500201226
• ISBN-13: 978-0500201220
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,817,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Colorful Writing for a Monochrome Book, April 1, 2000

By 

David Kirchner II (Riverside, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Edvard Munch (World of Art) (Paperback)

Often times, in the art world, pedantry and an overwrought sense of aesthetics make anything written on the subject unbearable for all but the snobbiest. Fortunately for the rest of rest, Mr. Hodin wrote this book. He is an engaging, lucid writer who has studied his subject thoroughly and actually knew Edvard Munch in his later years which enables him to offer a good deal of important personal information that other authors are simply not able to do. This additional insight is important, for Edvard Munch is one of the truly original geniuses of art and his work carries an urgent message for the dissociated psyche of modern man. My only complaint with this volume is that the publisher elected to print only about one third of the prints in color which, while unfortunate, is by no means devastating. If youre interested in this greatest of expressionists and interested in delving into the spiritual crisis of modern man, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. On the other hand, if youre an elitist art critic looking for stodgy literature, look elsewhere this is not your book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Discover the world of Edvard Munch, April 1, 2000

By 

David Bartle (Slough, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edvard Munch (World of Art) (Paperback)

An excellent and scholarly work covering all of Munch's work. Over 160 plates are discussed in depth and there are cross references to the wherabouts of each of the plates at the end of the book. The major fault is the lack of colour plates (30), and the relativly poor quality of the reproductions but all in all a valuable and comprehensive work.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Strengths and weaknesses, October 6, 2008

By 

x "x" (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edvard Munch (World of Art) (Paperback)

As the other reviewers noted, Hodin's book is heavy on personal information regarding the artist but low on color reproductions.

Given that, I think this is a good book for somebody who already knows a little about Munch and his work. A better introductory book, in my opinion, is Taschen's Munch, by Ulrich Bischoff. It has less information, as it is shorter (and less expensive), but almost all of the reproductions are in color. I believe color reproductions are critical in getting a feel for any artist's work but that this is particularly the case regarding the work of an artist such as Munch.

Hodin's book would seem to be a good follow-up to one such as Taschen's, providing more information on both the artist and his work.