The work of painter Oscar Bluemner (1867-1938), though revered among connoisseurs of early American modernism, is relatively unfamiliar to the general public. An important member of the circle of artists that formed around Alfred Stieglitz's 291 Gallery, Bluemner is best known for his boldly simplified geometric compositions and provocative use of color, and his paintings have been compared to those of Marsden Hartley, Charles Demuth, and Georgia O'Keeffe. Published to accompany a major exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art, this book will be nothing short of a "discovery" to most art lovers.
The catalogue, by Whitney curator Barbara Haskell, analyzes the evolution of Bluemner's work and places it within the context of the artist's life and the aesthetic currents of European and American modernism. The superb color plates show how, with its intense coloration and simple, recognizable shapes, Bluemner's work is immediately accessible even to those who have had little exposure to modern art.
The catalogue, by Whitney curator Barbara Haskell, analyzes the evolution of Bluemner's work and places it within the context of the artist's life and the aesthetic currents of European and American modernism. The superb color plates show how, with its intense coloration and simple, recognizable shapes, Bluemner's work is immediately accessible even to those who have had little exposure to modern art.
