What do you think?
Rate this book
Twentieth-Century American Art
Jackson Pollock, Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Julian Schnabel, and Laurie Anderson are just some of the major American artists of the twentieth century. From the 1893 Chicago World's Fair to the 2000 Whitney Biennial, a rapid succession of art movements and different styles reflected the extreme changes in American culture and society, as well as America's position within the international art world.
This exciting new look at twentieth century American art explores the relationships between American art, museums, and audiences in the century that came to be called the "American century." Extending beyond New York, it covers the emergence of Feminist art in Los Angeles in the 1970s; the Black art movement; the expansion of galleries and art schools; and the highly political public controversies surrounding arts funding. All the key movements are fully discussed, including early American Modernism, the New Negro movement, Regionalism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Neo-Expressionism.
This exciting new look at twentieth century American art explores the relationships between American art, museums, and audiences in the century that came to be called the "American century." Extending beyond New York, it covers the emergence of Feminist art in Los Angeles in the 1970s; the Black art movement; the expansion of galleries and art schools; and the highly political public controversies surrounding arts funding. All the key movements are fully discussed, including early American Modernism, the New Negro movement, Regionalism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Neo-Expressionism.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
18 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Erika Doss
33 books9 followersErika Doss is chair of the Department of American Studies program at the University of Notre Dame. She is the author of Spirit Poles and Flying Pigs: Public Art and Cultural Democracy in American Communities.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 31, 2025
A pretty good survey - roughly from the Ash Can school to 2000. It is a little too heavily organized around arts organizations, dealers, museums etc. As well, it’s a little too dependent on sweeping generalizations of the zeitgeist for tracing artistic schools and trends.
September 7, 2017
I learned a lot about art that I didn't know.
September 23, 2020
Informative.
June 14, 2023
A Superb Upper-Level Resource
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Twentieth-Century American Art by Erica Dodd is a remarkable and comprehensive exploration of the dynamic art movements that shaped American culture throughout the 1900s. Serving as an exceptional resource during my university days, this book offers a profound understanding of American Modernism and the New Negro Movement, among others. Dodd's meticulous research and insightful analysis make this volume an invaluable asset for students, art enthusiasts, and scholars alike.
The sections on American Modernism fascinated me, delving into the transformative period when artists broke away from traditional European influences to establish a distinct American artistic identity. Dodd masterfully examines the works of iconic figures such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper, and Jackson Pollock, capturing the essence of their artistic visions and contextualizing their contributions within the broader cultural landscape. The exploration of the New Negro Movement was equally captivating, providing a nuanced understanding of how art became a powerful tool for African American artists to assert their identities and challenge racial stereotypes. With its insightful analysis and meticulous research, Twentieth-Century American Art is an indispensable addition to any library, offering a profound appreciation for the rich tapestry of American art history.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Twentieth-Century American Art by Erica Dodd is a remarkable and comprehensive exploration of the dynamic art movements that shaped American culture throughout the 1900s. Serving as an exceptional resource during my university days, this book offers a profound understanding of American Modernism and the New Negro Movement, among others. Dodd's meticulous research and insightful analysis make this volume an invaluable asset for students, art enthusiasts, and scholars alike.
The sections on American Modernism fascinated me, delving into the transformative period when artists broke away from traditional European influences to establish a distinct American artistic identity. Dodd masterfully examines the works of iconic figures such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper, and Jackson Pollock, capturing the essence of their artistic visions and contextualizing their contributions within the broader cultural landscape. The exploration of the New Negro Movement was equally captivating, providing a nuanced understanding of how art became a powerful tool for African American artists to assert their identities and challenge racial stereotypes. With its insightful analysis and meticulous research, Twentieth-Century American Art is an indispensable addition to any library, offering a profound appreciation for the rich tapestry of American art history.
January 15, 2011
"An axe to grind"
This book focuses on one author's highly politicized opinion of 20th-century American art at the expense of the broader survey that this book was intended to be. Figuring prominently are the works of Jackson Pollack and Feminist artists. Discouraged and dismissed are any kind of pop or appropriation art. Walking the line between breadth and depth, the author mis-steps and achieves neither. I found parts of this book confusing, because the narrative element was weak. At the same time, the details spent on specific artists or movements did not really explain the isolated subjects that they covered effectively. I read this book for "homework," because I wanted to see how different artists were related, and to get a feel for how different artistic movements fit into a historical context with each other. I did increase my general knowledge in terms of buzzwords and timelines, but overall my time would have been better spent on a self-led tour of the subject via Wikipedia.
This book focuses on one author's highly politicized opinion of 20th-century American art at the expense of the broader survey that this book was intended to be. Figuring prominently are the works of Jackson Pollack and Feminist artists. Discouraged and dismissed are any kind of pop or appropriation art. Walking the line between breadth and depth, the author mis-steps and achieves neither. I found parts of this book confusing, because the narrative element was weak. At the same time, the details spent on specific artists or movements did not really explain the isolated subjects that they covered effectively. I read this book for "homework," because I wanted to see how different artists were related, and to get a feel for how different artistic movements fit into a historical context with each other. I did increase my general knowledge in terms of buzzwords and timelines, but overall my time would have been better spent on a self-led tour of the subject via Wikipedia.
June 5, 2007
Not bad...for an Oxbridge academic! (Just kidding.)
April 13, 2012
A solid, general overview of a good chunk of art --- great for beginning art enthusiasts!
June 18, 2012
I enjoyed the first part; but it kinda went off the rails as we got later in the century. But that's what I think about art anyway, so it's probably my fault more than the author's.
December 10, 2015
This book was interesting, but a bit confusing, the writer jump around a lot, just wasn't in any chronological order for me
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews