American Expressionism: Art and Social Change, 1920-1950

By Bram Dijkstra

During the 1920s and '30s and until the end of World War II, a distinctly American form of Expressionism evolved. Most of the artists in this movement, children of immigrants from eastern and southern... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810942313
• ISBN13: 9780810942318
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: ABRAMS
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 4.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 10.3" x 12.4"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful paintings -writing interesting

Many, most paintings were new to me. I like that. Many, many paintings. The writing is very interesting, from a different point of view than I've seen anywhere. He is anti-Abstract art, it's dominance and origin at this time. He has good arguments.

education is dangerous

The art contained within earns a night sky full of stars but I realisticaly dropped the rating to 4 stars because the writer/critic is insufferable. Its not that he writes overtly wordy, it is that Bram's opinions would float on water; they have no substance. I think some of his theories were formulated just to incense. (This book did get Bram more noticed in the art world) This movement of art is important because it questioned our societies norms and not the public's taste in esthetics. The space provided for insightful text became wasted space. Of course this my opinion. American Expresionism is becoming an increasingly forgotten form of social protest. Try finding a monograph on Rico LeBrun. My point proven. This movement deserves better analysis. It was shuffled like dirt under America's carpet so Abstract Expressionism could get the red carpet treatment. Try finding a monograph by Jackson Pollock, oh yeah, a hundred or so different books popped up. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Abstracts and the Regionalists as well; I just don't want it to be at the expense of the Expressionists. Read this book and keep American Expressionism from disappearing from history.

Just excellent

An excellent compilation of a mid-century American art style. Despite the promised controversy, Dijkstra's commentaries are brilliant and quite convincing. This is certainly not a pretty or unemotional art. But what a rewarding experience.

A masterpiece!!

AMERICAN EXPRESSIONISM is a beautiful book and one could have no better guide that cultural historian Bram Dijkstra. He is passionate, articulate, intelligent and knowledgeable about his subject. I am richer and have a deeper appreciation for the world of expressionism for having experienced this fine book.Bravo.