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Howard Hodgkin Large Paintings

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The lush colorful paintings of award-winning Scottish Painter Howard Hodgkin may not be familiar to many Americans, but are well known in the U.K. and beyond. People who appreciate works by inventive colorists like Henri Mattise or Hodgkin's fellow countryman, David Hockney, may respond favorably to this work. "Howard Hodgkin, Large Paintings, 1984-2002," contains two short essays and 14 lush color reproductions. Like Hodgkin's works, the small portions this handsome little book affords are perfect for art that is more complex than first meets the eye. In fact, the actual "large paintings" are only big when compared to their puny cousins. Essays by Robert Rosenblum and Richard Kendall provide thoughtful, clear commentary, on an art where important aspects hide in plain view; "ecstasy and dissonance" create unlikely harmonies. Big paint strokes, carefully planned, cover frames as well as "picture." This is cerebral, romantic art---think Zen pottery glazing--or Turner's seascapes. Quite uninterested in reproducing the outward appearances of things and settings, Hodgkin sees himself as an "emotional painter" of specific intimate events or people. "Howard Hodgkin, Large Paintings, 1984-2002" may appeal to literate people with conservative taste. Hodgkin's progressive art proves modernism need not be the enemy of emotion. A worthy introduction to Britain's brilliant working artist. A real eye-opener.