George Tooker [Paperback]

Thomas H. Garver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002

Tooker's realism is the realism of mystery."--Time

This book contains over 150 paintings of George Tooker. The color reproductions capture the luminous quality of the artist's work in egg tempera, and his meticulous painting technique is described in detail through an intimate look into the artist's studio.

For more than forty-five years Tooker has painted haunting psychological landscapes exploring the human condition, all characterized by their use of symbolism, classical form, and masterful technique. His absorbing images both enchant and repel us in their forceful depiction of the complexities of our age while clearly demonstrating the artist's love of composition and human form. By Thomas H. Garver.

Revised edition. 164 pages, over 150 color and black-and-white paintings. Paperbound with flaps. Size: 10 x 11".

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Once you’ve seen a George Tooker painting, you won’t soon forget it, but Tooker’s life and work are not well known. This gap in American art history is splendidly redressed in this volume of lustrous reproductions and informative biographical and critical essays published in conjunction with the first Tooker retrospective in three decades. Born in 1920, Tooker has long been influenced by his love of literature, passion for Renaissance art, and spirituality. After finding a place within a circle of fellow gay artists and writers, including Paul Cadmus, Lincoln Kirstein, and W. H. Auden, Tooker left New York and the postwar action-painting vortex for Vermont, where he still works in the unforgiving medium of egg tempera, creating empathic, haunting paintings of people literally or figuratively boxed in and isolated, such as his most famous work, Subway (1950), in which wary women and men navigate prisonlike halls. Sensitive to prejudice and injustice, concerned with alienation and other maladies of the soul, and critical of corporate culture, Tooker describes his freshly germane work as “protest paintings.” Attuned to life’s mysteries, sorrows, and beauty, Tooker is also a painter of light and love. --Donna Seaman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Thomas H. Garver is Director of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Wisconsin. jonathan weinberg is an artist and art historian who has written several books on modern American art. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Pomegranate Communications (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566400686
• ISBN-13: 978-1566400688
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 10 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #658,349 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully presented, February 5, 2008

By 

Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: George Tooker (Paperback)

A large (10" x 11"), almost square format paperback with fold out cover which is illustrated throughout predominantly in full colour. Following the introduction which provides a brief biography of the artist, the books proceeds to consider the paintings chronologically. Each painting is discussed in detail; the intelligent and accessible commentary taking into account relevant events in the artist's life that might bear influence on the work. The book concludes with an illustrated (black and white) catalogue raisonne of paintings, a list of exhibitions and a selected bibliography.

This is a splendid book, beautifully presented; it is well laid out and with many if the images presented against a neutral grey page background which well suites the work. The book designer should be commended too for arranging the text alongside, or within a page of, the images to which to it refers; without compromising the layout (other publishers and designers please take note - it can be done!).

The book contains over 145 paintings of which more than 85 are in full colour, most of the latter are half to full page size. The printing is excellent and well conveys the subtle delicacy of the paintings as well as the luminosity of the paint surface; with the result that the images truly glow out from the page.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars George Tooker is a genius, January 11, 2007

By 

pressurerising (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: George Tooker (Paperback)

George Tooker is a genius, and this book certainly does his work the justice it deserves. His lifetime's portfolio is lovingly reproduced, along with study drawings for many of the paintings, and explanations as well. The emphasis in this art book is on the pictures, rather than the text... highly recommended. (By me at least.)

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fine art indeed, September 20, 2007

By 

Razvan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: George Tooker (Paperback)

George Tooker is surprisingly fresh and intriguing, misteryous and subtle.
Like Garver says, he is a classic in modern times, perfectly integrated though.
I always wanted an art book with his works, but only now I had this occasion, thanks to amazon!