The Museum of Modern Art New York (Abradale Books) [Hardcover]

Sam Hunter (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

To choose 1,000 works to represent a museum whose total collection exceeds 100,000--now that's curating. Imagine the restraint required to compile a catalog of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York--the first museum exclusively dedicated to art of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the first to recognize modern-art disciplines (photography, film, industrial design, installation). The collection is carefully and tastefully represented in this 600-page tome. Multiple frontispieces representing each of the museum's departments welcome the reader, followed by a thorough and illustrated introduction to the museum's directors, exhibitions, donors, acquisitions, and architecture.

Then comes the good stuff: 1,000 works from the museum's six curatorial departments: Painting and Sculpture, Drawings, Prints and Illustrated Books, Architecture and Design, Photography, and Film and Video, each section introduced by an essay explaining the development of the particular collection. Clear, large, color illustrations of Cezanne's The Bather, Munch's Madonna, Wyeth's Christina's World, and sculpture by Oldenburg, Serra, Morris, and Beuys leave a reader gasping, "They have that?"

First published in 1984, the book was reprinted in 1997 by Abradale, Abrams's more affordable imprint. While the huge catalog is now less expensive, keep in mind that its content has not been revised since its first edition. Regardless, it's a valuable testament to the quality and scope of one of the world's greatest art collections. It's hard not to want to see all of the works that didn't make it into the catalog.

From Library Journal

This magnificent volume includes more than 1000 illustrations representing the great museum's six departments. Although it debuted in 1984 at $75, this reprint offers the same quality for half the price. (Classic Returns, LJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 608 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810981874
• ISBN-13: 978-0810981874
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 10.1 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #562,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must have!, July 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Museum of Modern Art New York (Abradale Books) (Hardcover)

this is a collectable book that will always be returned to whether to browse or find information. the quality of the paper makes the pictures perfect and a great joy to look through..

this is a true account of modern art in its brightest forms..it is wonderful to see this publication when so many contemporary art books fail in quality.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars *An absolute must for all modern art lovers*, February 18, 2003

By 

"jazzy_baby" (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Museum of Modern Art New York (Abradale Books) (Hardcover)

Fabulous art collections by the modern masters - complete with many descriptions of the pieces. Papers used are great to touch, pictures are lovely to see and a great binding with dust jacket. A wonderful treat to add to your library. Buy it, you won't regret it!

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an excellent companion to the world's finest museum, June 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Museum of Modern Art New York (Abradale Books) (Hardcover)

There are no greater storehouses of modern art in the world than MOMA in New York, a treasure house of many of the greatest works of the century. Any place you can find Dali, Magritte, Pollock, Picasso and Warhol rubbing shoulders is fine by me so this book is a real delight. For those of you who love the work of the 20th century, this is a must. For those of you who don't get it, get a life and get this book.