Lee Krasner

by Robert Carleton Hobbs

Book Overview

Lee Krasner never took the easy way out-not in life, not in art. Brought up in a poor Brooklyn neighborhood and originally named Lena Krasner by her immigrant parents, she decided early on to create a new name and a new identity for herself. Later, as one of the few female painters in the aggressively male circle of Abstract Expressionists, she had to contend not only with the critics' skepticism about their new way of making art but also with the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558592830
• ISBN13: 9781558592834
• Release Date: September 1993
• Publisher: Abbeville Press
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.6" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Krasner Delights!

Lee Krasner was probably one of the most underrated artists of her generation. She met her future husband, Jackson Pollock, in the early 40's and helped him advance his career. She knew some well-known art collectors such as Peggy Guggenheim and was able to connect he husband with them. Although Pollock died prematurely, thrown from his car which overturned and landed on one of his passengers (he was totally drunk at the time) in August of 1956, she then proceeded to use up some of the large rolls of canvas in the little shed at the back of her house where Pollock worked. The images in this book are very well done with excellent, realistic color.

A celebration of Lee Krasner

Robert Hobbs' book on Lee Krasner is an excellent introduction to the life and work of this important artist. My first experience of Lee Krasner came through the film "Pollock," a biographical drama about Krasner's husband and fellow artist, Jackson Pollock. I was so impressed by Marcia Gay Harden's passionate portrayal of Krasner in the film that I sought out more information about Krasner, and found Hobbs' book.This book is filled with full-color reproductions of many of Krasner's paintings. She brought something truly special to the abstract expressionist movement. Her work seems to evoke both the technological energy of an urban environment, as well as primal biological power. The book also has many wonderful photographs of Krasner at many stages in her life. In his text, Hobbs discusses such subjects as the influence of Krasner's Russian Jewish heritage upon her work. This is a visually striking and thought-provoking book. My suggestion? Read the book, and see the movie "Pollock."

Wonderful Book

This is a great book about Lee Krasner's life and work. Many survey books leave her out so she may be unknown to some people. This book has great color plates and a lot of text which is nice. There are also nice photographs of her. It is a wonderful book for anyone who appreciates art.