The Innocent Eye [Paperback]

Jonathan Fineberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 1997

The idea that modern art looks like something a child can do is a long-standing cliche. However, for some modernists the connection between their work and children's art was direct and explicit. Centred on such modern masters as Klee, Kandinsky, Picasso and Miro, this book presents material from the collections of child art that these artists actually possessed as they undertook some of the greatest works of their careers. It explores the importance of children's art to key modernists from Matisse to Jackson Pollock, and juxtaposes modern masterpieces with the drawings by children that directly influenced them. Discussing the effect of primitivism and Freudian thought on some of these artists, this work demonstrates how they valued children's art for many reasons, including its naive spontaneity and celebration of the moment, and its imaginative use of visual language. In chapters devoted to Larionov, Kandinsky and Muenter, Klee, Picasso, Miro, Dubuffet, the Cobra artists, and artists after World War II, the author examines how each artist exploited aspects of child art to formulate his or her own artistic breakthroughs.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The old modern art saw, "My child could have done that," is addressed head-on in this engaging study. Fineberg (art history, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) looks at the use of children's art by many 20th-century artists who collected it, drew inspiration from it, or incorporated it into their own work. In chapters on Kandinsky, Klee, Picasso, Miro, Dubuffet, and others, Fineberg develops the argument that many modern masters used children's art as a way to recapture freshness of vision. This work is generously illustrated with both adult and children's artwork, though a few of the examples are too small for details discussed in the text to be seen. This serious work will be of interest to specialists in the field, but it is also suitable for students and general readers.?Kathryn Wekselman, Univ. of Cincinnati Lib.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

An illuminating and at times revelatory new book.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press; First Printing edition (January 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691016844
• ISBN-13: 978-0691016849
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,516,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Provides new insight into modern art., December 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Innocent Eye (Hardcover)

There are many modern artists' works illustrated in this book I have seen for the first time. The book provided new insights into the inspiration of a number of prominent 20th Century artists. I highly recommend it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational for all young artists at heart, July 9, 1999

By 

Thomas J. Kovacich (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Innocent Eye (Paperback)

i found fineberg's research in the correlation between childrens art and that of the successful artist to be quite compelling indeed. i myself often return to childish doodles and renderings to keep a fresh approach to my artistic style. fineberg should be applauded for this this excellent retrospect being applied to the modern art movement. buy it and enjoy!

5.0 out of 5 stars Supercalafragalisticespealadocious!!!!, July 9, 1999

By 

Thomas J. Kovacich (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Innocent Eye (Paperback)

As an art student, I personally found Fineberg's Innocent Eye highly inspirational and enlightening. Fineberg really puts his finger on the correlation and source of many modern artists expression in the visual arts. Innocent Eye is becomes successful by showing modern artists work alongside the childrens' art that inspired them. It is often difficult to tell the difference between the children's art and the highly accredited artist. A wonderful book for the first-year art student or modern art enthusiast.