Joan Mitchell [Hardcover]

Klaus Kertess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1997

Joan Mitchell (1926-1992) was one of the major artists of the Abstract Expressionist movement. She won a place for herself in the New York art world of the 1950s and achieved recognition for her grand yet personal style of painting. That she is not more widely appreciated in the United States is partly because she lived in France during the later decades of her life. In her will, Mitchell directed that the critic and curator, Klaus Kertess, write the text for this study of her life and work. The book traces her evolution from her earliest efforts as a young artist in Chicago and her arrival in New York in the 1940s. It gives special attention to the array of gifted painters and poets in the New York art scene of the 1950s, when Mitchell first made her mark, and discusses at length her friendships with artists such as Willem de Kooning and Franz Kline, and writers such as Frank O'Hara.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As an artist, Joan Mitchell's talents and significance were often overshadowed by the time and place of her work. While living in New York in the 1950s, for instance, she had to share a stage with such luminaries as Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, a feat further complicated by her gender. Second, she chose to live in France for the last decades of her life, causing her to slip from the collective memory of most Americans. Regardless of this undeservedly diminished stature, Mitchell will go down in history as a leader of the Abstract Expressionist movement, leaving behind an impressive and influential body of work. Joan Mitchell is very much a labor of love, since, in her will, the artist asked her longtime friend Klaus Kertess to write the text for this collection, a task that he completes with style and skill. Along with revealing her personality and motivations, Kertess does an admirable job of detailing the impressive artistic circles Mitchell ran in while living in Chicago, New York, and Paris. This volume exhibits 120 pieces of her work, as well as a detailed and comprehensive biographical chronology that is sure to help jog some memories.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 204 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; First Edition edition (February 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810942976
• ISBN-13: 978-0810942974
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 11.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,804,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #86 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Abstract Expressionism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best, most complete collection of Mitchell's works., October 31, 1998

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Joan Mitchell (Hardcover)

The narrative is interesting, but the main purpose for this book, at least for me, is a collection of pictures of her work. This book has the most complete collection of her work that I've found. The plates are large, beautfiul, and very well done, allowing you to see lots of detail! If you are interested in Joan Mitchell you should absolutely get this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you can find it, buy it, December 3, 2007

By 

Jim Lourie (James Lourie) "artist" (Bellingham, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joan Mitchell (Hardcover)

This book is one of the best Joan Mitchell books I have. However, I found it for much much cheaper than 100 dollars. If you can locate a cheaper copy, I would recommend buying this book. The color plates are very good.

The other book that compares is the Whitney Museum book:

The Paintings of Joan Mitchell (Whitney Museum of American Art) by Jane Livingston