Customer Reviews

Jackson Pollock: The Irascibles and the New York School

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The Irascibles were a group of individualistic abstract painters who were too strong willed and egotistic to accept a group identity. No such unity ever existed. But there they were gathered (01/15/1951) the most powerful figures in art. For an evening of comraderie and argument.

Together they had changed art forever. What we all know now as modern art is under direct influence of the Irascibles. Oh sure there were Cezanne and Picasso and a host of other artists that changed courses in art consciousness. But the abstract expressionists approached their art with unmathed energy. Their compositions spanned fields of psychic spectrums. Together they effected a bold synthesis.

This fantastic book features a wide selection of abstract expressionism. The title uses Jackson Pollock's name to grab your attention. And rightfully so. He did break it wide open. And his art has proved itself standing amongst the top few masters of art in history. But the selections include wonderful reproductions by all the major Irascibles: Rothko, Krasner, Still, Stamos, Motherwell, Gorky, Newman, de Kooning, Gottlieb, and others. . . . . 'Irascibles' was labeled during an impromptu photo on that infamous evening.

The many reproductions include rarely available Pollock's 'Beach Figures', 'Portrait of HM', 'Sun Scape'. Others include overbearing Ossorio's 'Totem', Krasner's 'Lava', and a sprinkling of Motherwell, Rothko, Smith, et al. Note: a 5 star rating evades this book due to its lack of more Irascibles reproductions. But overall its a good book.

Without fanfare companionship this New York group of artists imposed a most profoud sweeping influence upon the skin of society. A must have book for anyone with an amore for AB-EX. (Our recommended companion to this book would be 'Abstract Expressionism' by David Anfam).