Customer Reviews

Georges Braque: A Life

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With the back matter of three short appendices, lengthy notes, lengthy bibliography, and index starting on page 280, this makes the text less than 300 pages. Danchev's biography on this early modernist artist relates his influence on contemporary artists and on modern art as well as influences on him mostly through Braque's relationships with others. The treatment is not a probing psychological study, nor an aesthetic critique and evaluation; but rather concentrates on aspects of Braque's everyday life--his friendships, his trips, his habits. Braque's long and fertile relationship with Picasso was central to Braque's creativity. Danchev also spends time on Braque's marriage to Marcelle Vorvanne, giving her a mini-biography of her own. Another important relationship for Braque was with Jean Paulhan, one of the editors of "Nouvelle Revue Francaise," who "became [the artist's] greatest tribune and celebrant." Paulhan wrote about Braque's painting, "[I]t is without doubt that his work is at all times strangely complete and sufficient...[with the ultimate] feeling of a delay enjoyed, and an obligation fulfilled." Such observations from others in Braque's life are not only illuminating and stimulating in themselves, but accrue to cast light on the complexities and enigma of Braque--as with any historically significant artist--and his paintings; several of which are shown in color plates. Danchev has written other biographies and is a professor in the School of Politics at the U. of Nottingham.

It is remarkable how few books have been written on Braque. I find him a charming character, based on what I read about him in Richardson's superb bio of Picasso, but I don't like Danchev's style in this bio, and have the feeling that his research was incomplete and too superficial when he wrote it. The organization is lacking, and this appears to derive from a lack of depth on Danchev's part. He rambles most of the time, and needed a disciplined editor. The book doesn't have good reproductions of some important paintings, and one of the color plates, of the ceiling at the Louvre, was taken at an angle that IMO detracts from its presentation. Danchev emphasizes trivia and major themes are lost in the junkpile of his notes, which this book appears to be. In a bio of Braque, I consider it essential to make a strong point about his seminal paintings that initiated first analytic, and then synthetic cubism. Similarly, it is important to tell how he used techniques he learned as a first-rate house painter to impart an original stamp to synthetic cubism, and how Picasso learned these techniques from Braque. I shall confess that I haven't read through the entire book, because I find it painful to read, and don't have much patience for Danchev. Shouldn't there be pictures of Braque dancing, playing music, and especially, boxing?! Braque really deserves a good bio. Will he or she who writes the first be written off as "completement braque?"

I LOVE THIS BOOK.

This book will infect you

with a love of art & artists.

Art students , pay attention

to this delicious treat !