Frank Auerbach

Rating:
Summary: Head of Frank Auerbach
Review: Frank Auerbach's paintings are known for their expressive quality and graphic directness. This handsome monograph (the first of its kind) on the artist is a quality introduction to the reclusive British artist. Robert Hughes places the Berlin-born painter within the context of the "British School" and within the artist's personal tradition with the old masters. Auerbach's dedication to painting is evidently shown through the text and copious illustrations, including 80 in full color. The first chapter is especially interesting, offering a rare glimpse into the artist's studio which he has kept for over forty five years. This is a seminal work on a major contemprary painter.

Rating:
Summary: An indepth look over the painter's shoulder
Review: Franz Auerbach, though well known in circles where figurative painting is important, has never pulled the attention of the art world in the way he should. Robert Hughes tends to that oversight in his definitive monograph on this puzzling artist. With insight and a true sense of kinship with the work, Hughes explains and then illustrates why Auerbach is worthy of admiration. Few artists can pull the figure onto the canvas surface the way Auerbach can, using what seems to be the crude pushing of pigment with palette knife and heavy brush. But these expressionistic faces groan with angst or shout their heroic stature powerfully. This is in every way a fine book dealing with a superb artist.

Rating:
Summary: An indepth look over the painter's shoulder
Review: Franz Auerbach, though well known in circles where figurative painting is important, has never pulled the attention of the art world in the way he should. Robert Hughes tends to that oversight in his definitive monograph on this puzzling artist. With insight and a true sense of kinship with the work, Hughes explains and then illustrates why Auerbach is worthy of admiration. Few artists can pull the figure onto the canvas surface the way Auerbach can, using what seems to be the crude pushing of pigment with palette knife and heavy brush. But these expressionistic faces groan with angst or shout their heroic stature powerfully. This is in every way a fine book dealing with a superb artist.

Rating:
Summary: Superb text, superb paintings
Review: If you are used to having to decode the gnostic and layered texts of typical academic writing on art, this book will be a refreshing change. Hughes writes clearly, yet is not afraid to handle complex and challenging ideas. The book does an excellent job of giving you an understanding of the development of Auerbach's work, from the somewhat turgid work of the 50's to the dynamic paintings of the 1980's. I was especially interested in Hughes' analysis of these later paintings, which emphasizes their relationship to the real world of volume and movement. While their surfaces resemble the fevered paint of neo-expressionism, these are fundamentally pictures in which the artist is not just expressing himself, but is reacting to the "resistant" and complex world. Drawing and painting are unified; form is followed "around the back and out the other side." There are many fascinating quotes from Auerbach himself (for example, an observation that Matisse's cut-outs are such strong shapes because they proceed from an understanding of volume.) The color plates are plentiful and excellent. Careful marginal notes make it easy to refer to the reproductions while reading. This is a book you can actually read and enjoy.