Peter Selz

Peter Selz (1919-2019) was a prominent American art historian, curator, and educator who played a major role in shaping modern art history and criticism during the latter half of the 20th century. As the founding director of the Berkeley Art Museum and the chief curator of painting and sculpture at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), he organized numerous influential exhibitions that helped define modern art for American audiences. During his tenure at MoMA (1958-1965), Selz curated several landmark exhibitions including the first American retrospectives of Alberto Giacometti and Jean Dubuffet. His 1959 exhibition "New Images of Man" was particularly significant in highlighting figurative expressionism at a time when abstract expressionism dominated the art world. At the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught from 1965 to 1988, Selz established himself as a leading scholar of German Expressionism and wrote extensively on the subject. His books "German Expressionist Painting" (1957) and "Art in Our Times" (1981) became standard texts in art history education. Selz's influence extended beyond academia through his work as a critic and his support of emerging artists, particularly those working in California during the 1960s and 1970s. His expertise in both European modernism and American contemporary art made him a unique voice in art historical discourse, bridging multiple artistic movements and cultural perspectives.

Readers consistently praise Selz's clear writing style and depth of knowledge about German Expressionism. His books provide detailed historical context and analysis that art students and professionals reference frequently. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of complex art movements - High-quality image reproductions in his books - Balance of academic rigor with accessible language - Comprehensive coverage of artists and movements What readers disliked: - Some found his academic tone dry - High prices of his art books - Limited coverage of female artists - Text-heavy format in some publications Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - "German Expressionist Painting": 4.2/5 (42 ratings) - "Art in Our Times": 3.9/5 (28 ratings) Amazon: - Average 4.3/5 across all works - Most reviews note his books' value as reference materials One reader on Goodreads noted: "Selz explains German Expressionism with remarkable clarity - perfect for both students and scholars." Another commented: "Dense but rewarding reading for anyone serious about modern art history."

German Expressionist Painting (1957) A comprehensive study of the German Expressionist movement from 1905-1920, examining its major artists, stylistic elements, and historical context.

Art in Our Times: A Pictorial History, 1890-1980 (1981) A chronological survey of 20th-century art movements, featuring analysis of key works and cultural developments.

Art in a Turbulent Era (1985) An examination of political and social influences on art during periods of significant historical upheaval.

Art of Engagement: Visual Politics in California and Beyond (2006) A study of politically and socially engaged art in California from the 1930s to the early 21st century.

Beyond the Mainstream: Essays on Modern and Contemporary Art (1997) A collection of essays analyzing various aspects of modernist and contemporary art movements and artists.

Max Beckmann (1964) A detailed biographical and critical study of the German expressionist painter Max Beckmann and his works.

Emil Nolde (1963) A monograph exploring the life and artistic development of German expressionist painter Emil Nolde.

Art in Power (1951) An analysis of the relationship between art and political authority throughout different historical periods.

Clement Greenberg wrote influential critiques of modern art and Abstract Expressionism in the mid-20th century. Like Selz, he focused on analyzing avant-garde movements and their cultural significance.

Robert Hughes produced comprehensive texts on modern art history and cultural criticism from the 1960s through early 2000s. His work parallels Selz's focus on examining the relationship between art and society across different periods.

Barbara Rose specialized in writing about American art and Abstract Expressionism during the same era as Selz. She shared his interest in examining how modern art movements reflected broader cultural changes.

Irving Sandler documented the American art scene from 1950s onward, with particular attention to Abstract Expressionism and its aftermath. His first-hand accounts of artists and movements complement Selz's historical perspective.

Lucy Lippard wrote extensively about contemporary art and conceptual art movements from the 1960s forward. Her analysis of emerging art forms builds on the foundation of modernist criticism established by scholars like Selz.