"A Voyage on the North Sea": Art in the Age of the Post-Medium Condition

Rosalind Krauss examines the state of artistic medium specificity in the contemporary era through close analysis of Marcel Broodthaers's 1974 work "A Voyage on the North Sea." The book takes Broodthaers's piece, which combines film and printed matter, as a starting point to investigate how artists engage with different mediums in the post-medium age. Through historical examples and theoretical frameworks, Krauss traces the evolution of artistic mediums from modernism to the present. She explores how technological changes and conceptual developments have transformed the relationship between artists and their chosen forms of expression. The analysis centers on questions of obsolescence, recursion, and the continued relevance of medium-based practices in contemporary art. By examining these themes in relation to specific works and broader cultural shifts, Krauss presents a complex view of artistic production that moves beyond traditional definitions while maintaining the importance of medium-specificity. This critical text offers insights into how artists navigate between different mediums while questioning conventional boundaries in art-making. The book's arguments speak to fundamental tensions in contemporary art practice and theory.

Readers note this book requires multiple readings to grasp Krauss's complex arguments about medium specificity and art history. Many appreciate her analysis of Marcel Broodthaers's work and how she connects it to broader theories about post-medium art. Liked: - Clear examples using film and photography - Strong theoretical framework for analyzing contemporary art - Concise length at 64 pages Disliked: - Dense academic language - Assumes significant prior knowledge of art theory - Limited scope despite ambitious claims - High price for a short book One reader on Goodreads states "Her writing style is unnecessarily obtuse" while another notes "It changed how I think about medium in contemporary art practice." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (6 reviews) Most common description from readers: A challenging but rewarding text for those already familiar with art theory and criticism.

Inside the White Cube by Brian O'Doherty This text examines the gallery space as an ideological construct and its influence on modern art, connecting to Krauss's exploration of artistic mediums and institutional frameworks.

Art and Objecthood by Michael Fried The book presents theories about minimalism and the relationship between art and viewers through time, complementing Krauss's analysis of medium specificity and contemporary art practices.

Under Blue Cup by Rosalind Krauss This work continues the examination of medium specificity in contemporary art through memory and neural processes, building upon the concepts introduced in "A Voyage on the North Sea."

The Originality of the Avant-Garde and Other Modernist Myths by Rosalind Krauss The text deconstructs modernist art criticism and challenges established narratives about artistic originality, expanding on themes of medium and artistic practice.

Art Since 1900 by Hal Foster, Rosalind Krauss, Yve-Alain Bois This comprehensive survey presents art history through critical theory and methodology, providing context for the post-medium condition discussed in "A Voyage on the North Sea."

🎨 Rosalind Krauss wrote this book in response to Belgian artist Marcel Broodthaers' 1973 film of the same name, which juxtaposed Victorian sailing ship photos with contemporary pleasure boats. 📚 The term "post-medium condition" introduced in this book became a pivotal concept in contemporary art theory, describing how modern artists work across multiple mediums rather than specializing in one. 🎓 Krauss, a professor at Columbia University, founded the influential journal "October" in 1976, which revolutionized art criticism and theory in America. 🖼️ The book challenges Clement Greenberg's modernist theory that each art form should focus on its unique medium-specific qualities, instead arguing for a more complex understanding of artistic media. 📽️ Through analyzing Broodthaers' work, Krauss demonstrates how contemporary artists create "technical support" systems that replace traditional artistic mediums, using various technologies and platforms to express their ideas.