Modern Art Despite Modernism

Modern Art Despite Modernism examines the complex artistic landscape of the 20th century, focusing on works and movements that existed parallel to or in opposition to mainstream modernism. The book serves as a companion to The Museum of Modern Art's millennial exhibition of the same name. Robert Storr analyzes artists and artistic approaches that challenged modernist orthodoxy, from realism and classicism to various forms of traditionalism. The text explores how MoMA's collection evolved to include works that defied the standard narrative of modern art's progression. The book documents significant artistic contributions that occurred outside prevailing modernist movements, highlighting artists who maintained alternative practices during modernism's ascendancy. Through extensive visual examples and scholarly analysis, Storr reconstructs the broader context of 20th-century art production and reception. This examination raises questions about the nature of artistic evolution and the role of institutions in constructing historical narratives. The text suggests that modern art's development followed multiple concurrent paths rather than a single linear trajectory.

Readers appreciate the book's examination of MoMA's collection from 1940-2000 and its challenge to standard modernist narratives. Several reviewers note Storr's clear analysis of how realist and representational art persisted alongside abstract modernism. Positive comments focus on: - Well-researched historical context - High quality artwork reproductions - Accessible writing style for non-experts Main criticisms: - Limited scope, focusing mainly on MoMA's collection - Some repetitive sections - Price point too high for the length Review sources are limited - the book has: Amazon: 5/5 (2 reviews) Goodreads: No ratings WorldCat: No ratings One Amazon reviewer stated: "Important contribution to understanding modernism's relationship with representational art." An art history professor on ArtForum called it "a needed corrective to oversimplified views of 20th century art movements."

The Shock of the New by Robert Hughes A history of modern art that examines the movements and counter-movements of the twentieth century through social and political contexts.

Art Since 1900 by Hal Foster, Rosalind Krauss, Yve-Alain Bois A chronological examination of modernism and its discontents through psychoanalytic, social, formal, and political perspectives.

What Was Contemporary Art? by Richard Meyer An investigation of how artists and institutions challenged modernist narratives throughout the twentieth century.

The Return of the Real by Hal Foster An analysis of avant-garde art movements and their relationship to modernism through case studies of minimalism, pop art, and neo-avant-garde practices.

The Anti-Aesthetic: Essays on Postmodern Culture by Hal Foster A collection of essays exploring the criticism and resistance to modernist ideals in contemporary art and culture.

🎨 Robert Storr served as the Curator of Painting and Sculpture at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) from 1990 to 2002, giving him unique insight into the works discussed in the book 📚 The book was published in conjunction with an exhibition at MoMA that challenged conventional narratives about modernism by highlighting artists who worked outside the mainstream 🖼 The text explores how figurative and realistic art continued to thrive during modernism's peak, despite being often overlooked by art historians ✨ The book features works by artists like Pavel Tchelitchew and Christian Berard, who maintained traditional painting techniques while their contemporaries embraced abstraction 🏛 Storr later became the first American to serve as director of the Venice Biennale in 2007, further cementing his influence on international art discourse