Clement Greenberg: A Life

By Florence Rubenfeld

Book Overview

The only book-length biography of this controversial critic, now in paperback for the first time! Love him or hate him, admire him or revile him, there is no doubt that Clement Greenberg was the most... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684191105
• ISBN13: 9780684191102
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Scribner
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

A Fascinating Look at Clem Greenberg and Post-war art

Florence Rubenfeld tells a magnificent story about a topic that might otherwise be rather dull: art criticism. She does, however, have great material to work with. Greenberg is intelligent, insightful, and had a difficult personality. The latter should not be seen as a drawback, however. A strong personality was needed to convince Americans and Europeans of the value of abstract expressionism and color field painting.Rubenfeld provides a thorough story. I have written one book, Art in the Courtroom, and am busy on another one. Therefore, I consider myself fairly well-read with respect to art. I learned a tremendous amount. Nothing can be better than an informative book that is written well. Thank you F Rubenfeld.

superb biography of brand-name critic

Best biography in years about manufacture of American culture.As recently as 1951,you could not give away examples of abstract American art.With the assistance of powerful art collectors such as Ben Sonnenberg,( who revolutionized the public relations industry) an obscure,hard-drinking,cocaine-loving New York journalist named Clement Greenberg-- almost single-handed--hoisted American art to the commanding heights.This is romantic stuff.But no other book is so honest about the creation of value in Abstract Expressionism,Color Field painting,Pop Art and Minimalism.This is like reading the honest recollections of people who created the computer-driven stock markets.It is the book of the year. And maybe the book of the decade.Do not miss this smog-clearing gem!