Clement Greenberg: A Life

by Florence Rubenfeld

The first biography of America's most influential art critic follows his rise to the height of New York City's art world, where he shepherded the abstract expressionism of Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and others to worldwide acceptance

Genres: Art, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Art History

336 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 1998

Reviews

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dense and thorough biography of New York art critic Clement Greenberg, who was a major force in championing American abstract expressionist art. He almost single handedly elevated the American art scene to be the acknowledged center for modern art in the 40s and 50s and shifted the locus of art centrality from Paris to New York. He was the major champion, for example, of Jackson Pollack, David Smith, Helen Frankenthaler (his paramour) and Barnett Newman. He was also a key figure in the Jewish intellectual literary scene in New York and his essays and opinions eventually carried a heavy weight and influence.

He was as rude and boorish as he was brilliant, and he was widely loathed and vilified, especially by those artists whom he did not praise. He also became personally involved with many of the artists that he promoted, and was accused of actually directly influencing the art of his coterie with specific suggestions. Further, his involvement with art dealers led many to suspect that he profited from the success of the artists he fostered. He also became involved with a weird sect of psychoanalysis which called for the severance of all forms of dependency on family and friends and led to a pattern of license and dissolute behavior.

I found this to be very useful in understanding the curious rise of abstract impressionism and the New York environment of art and intellectual literacy in the mid 20th century. Greenberg was a key figure in all of this, and Rubenfeld has researched it carefully. It's surprising that there are not more books on this fascinating and larger than life figure. This is a good start.

[Edward Champion · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1994, the monstrous art critic Clement Greenberg died in relative obscurity. But there was a time in which this abusive beast was widely feared. Rubenfeld's well-researched biography is in need of a bit more focus, but it IS a vital portrait of how the cultural world of the 1940s and the 1950s protected an asshole who regularly got into fistfights and engaged in domestic violence when he WASN'T desecrating the work of other artists to uphold his "standards." Greenberg rose to prominence thanks to a famous essay called "Avant-Garde and Kitsch" and the Partisan Review circle believed that Greenberg's "intellectualism" far outweighed his wretched bullying qualities. This volume is a useful reminder that the art and culture world protects its own. We are still seeing this today with the Russell Brand allegations. Kay Larson's 1987 essay on Clement Greenberg is a useful companion piece for this volume:

https://www.artforum.com/print/198706...

[Peter Pinelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite biography. I was reading Greenberg's essay collection Art and Culture before this. That book impressed me with its clarity and insight. So it shocked me to discover how much of a troll Greenberg was. His main good quality is his ability to be affected by artworks. Beyond that he's a trainwreck.

I also enjoyed the context on the art world of the 50's + 60's that this book gave. Shout out to Greenberg for using his power to refer everyone he knew to a cult-like group of therapists. Their main doctrine was that mental distress comes from feelings of dependency and so patients need to cut all ties to their family + maintain open relationships.

[Ric Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into the book with a dislike of Greenberg, and finished the book still disliking the man; but appreciating his work.

[Ed Smiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

He was the first one who really fought for Pollock.

A really interesting bio of a larger than life an d somewhat crazy figure; it covers his huge ego, sharp intellect and enormous personal failings. It's really hard to grab a hold of something new, and, although not all of his theories hold water, he had a considerable talent at spotting talent and artistic ideas.

(Also lots of interesting gossip about that his psychiatrist that everybody went to at that time, whose sage advice to couples was to s***w as many other people as possible.)

[abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

greenberg was the most important figure in the modern art movement and he wasn't an artist. his relationship with the prominent mid-century painters and sculptors helped shape the modern art movement.

[Barry · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can read my review of another Greenberg bio, in which this one is also briefly discussed, at http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061016/schwabsky. Neither one is adequate to the subject but this one is a bit better.

[R.Friend · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating look at the man whose critiques helped launch abstract expressionism, and the amazing life he lived among such monumental figures as Pollock and de Kooning.