Greenburg on Modernists Painting
Interesting;
Kant a rationalist and someone who was interested in the metaphysics of ethics and truth in art, part of this structure defends the freedom of the individual.
I think Greenburg if would have checked the dates of Kant’s writing (1797) he would have found them in line with American revolution, the flame that was to be the beginning of the end for European monarchies for it was just these rules who controlled the content of art.
Truly the decadence and arrogance of the European ruling class accelerated in the 19th century after the French revolution, ending in 1918.
Like many small earth quakes leading to disastrous collapse creating an opening to a new vision.
Are we in a tipping point now?
I like this observation he makes on viewing an old masters painting, that we see what is in the painting before we see the painting as a whole and the environment it rests in.
Conversely in viewing a Stella or Jim Dine you see the painting as a whole unit self contained
Drew
I am absolutely positive that Greenberg was aware of the context in which Kant was writing- world events, etc. That being said, Greenberg is saying something about the object-ness of Modernist painting as apposed to the picture-ness of an old master painting.
ReplyDeleteI think it is possible that we are in a tipping point but I also believe that we are always in a tipping point. Greenberg happened to have his finger on the pulse in 1939.
I agree about the 'tipping point' and I would offer to skeptics that the greatness of a philosophy is determined in much the same way as the greatness of a painting and this is simply through the lens of time. (Sure, one could argue the influence of curators like Henry Geldzahler, but even his critics have borne out his choices in succeeding decades). Regardless, Sister Wendy (LOVE her.) pointed out that time is the only true critic in that art must speak continually to one generation after another in order to remain relevant and therefore 'great'. I would offer that since Greenbergs views on the rise of the avant garde and kitsch and the relationship between the social classes (and if you dont think we have social castes you're simply not paying attention) based on cash flow is not only applicable to our day, but poignant.
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