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Editorial Reviews
Review
The book is the clearest, most forceful statement on art by an artist of our time that I have read.
--Frank Getletin (New Republic )
To find a lucid painter speaking lucidly of art is a thrilling discovery...[He traces] the formation of painting from idea to completion, both generally and specifically with a clarity of thought and a precise use of language which should be a very archetypal model for all critics and painters alike. (Virginia Quarterly Review )
A remarkably interesting book, which puts the reader in rewarding contact with a questing mind and a humane spirit. (The Atlantic )
Mr. Shahn "sets forth his views on both the practice and the purposes of art with a clarity, cogency, and incisiveness that any professional writer might envy, and he manages to interweave with this a good deal of interesting material about his own development as an artist, as well as a running summary of his opinions on contemporary painting in general...the book is highly controversial...also highly stimulating. (New Yorker )
In this brilliant book, which brings the many talents of Ben Shahn…into one crisp, clear, unified, astounding career, the primary focus is the exploration and explanation of the relationship between Shahn's paintings and photographs…The first half of the book consists of four exquisitely written essays by Kao, Katzman, and Webster, beautifuly illustrated with superb reproductions of Shahn's photographs and related materials, including detailed notes. The second half is an exhibition catalog with a wealth of quality reproductions of his paintings and photographs.
--J. Natal (Choice )
--Frank Getletin (New Republic )
To find a lucid painter speaking lucidly of art is a thrilling discovery...[He traces] the formation of painting from idea to completion, both generally and specifically with a clarity of thought and a precise use of language which should be a very archetypal model for all critics and painters alike. (Virginia Quarterly Review )
A remarkably interesting book, which puts the reader in rewarding contact with a questing mind and a humane spirit. (The Atlantic )
Mr. Shahn "sets forth his views on both the practice and the purposes of art with a clarity, cogency, and incisiveness that any professional writer might envy, and he manages to interweave with this a good deal of interesting material about his own development as an artist, as well as a running summary of his opinions on contemporary painting in general...the book is highly controversial...also highly stimulating. (New Yorker )
In this brilliant book, which brings the many talents of Ben Shahn…into one crisp, clear, unified, astounding career, the primary focus is the exploration and explanation of the relationship between Shahn's paintings and photographs…The first half of the book consists of four exquisitely written essays by Kao, Katzman, and Webster, beautifuly illustrated with superb reproductions of Shahn's photographs and related materials, including detailed notes. The second half is an exhibition catalog with a wealth of quality reproductions of his paintings and photographs.
--J. Natal (Choice )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent collection of essays on art by an artist.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Shape of Content (Charles Eliot Norton Lectures) (Paperback)
Based on a series of six lectures given by Shahn at Harvard University in the 1950's, this collection gives an overview of Shahn's ideas and opinions on such topics as the education of artists, the creative process, the nonconformity of artists, and appraisals of various modern art movements and artists. Shahn is a surprisingly gifted writer. His arguments are clearly reasoned and his tone is that of an art historian or philosopher. At the same time, the book is an intimate look at Shahn the artist. It is illustrated with numerous pen and ink sketches by Shahn
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the few truly great primary sources on Modern Art,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Shape of Content (Charles Eliot Norton Lectures) (Paperback)
Ben Shan's "The Shape of Content" in many ways truly defines the thinking of artists in a time that might be considered the height of modern american painting and art. It is an enormously human and genuine dialogue on art of the fifties. Few books so clearly establish how and why one becomes an artist. It is written with soul, intelligence, and great humanism while totally avoiding the sophistry of the critics and journalists writing about art at that time in American society. A great book!
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Creative Process,
By
This review is from: The Shape of Content (Charles Eliot Norton Lectures) (Paperback)
This book is one of the clearest explanations of the creative process of an artist available anywhere. Shahn speaks of painting, of course, but his lucid, interesting text, his ideas and explorations, apply to artists in any field. Highly recommended.
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