To a Violent Grave: An Oral Biography of Jackson Pollock - Hardcover

Potter, Jeffrey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399129103 ISBN 13: 9780399129100

Publisher: Putnam Pub Group, 1985

Synopsis

A portrait of the tempestuous life and innovative art of Abstract Expressionist Jackson Pollock offers an intimate view of the dark side of his personal life, a critical analysis of his artistic development, and a study of his relationship with other artists

About this title

From Library Journal:

Pollock's colorful career has been the stuff of artistic legend ever since his death in an auto accident in 1956. His frenzied exploits, the brawling, drinking, and reckless driving, were viewed as an inevitable part of his painterly creativity. Potter was Pollock's neighbor in East Hampton, Long Island, where the two men shared an interest in the land. He has pieced together a racy narrative of the artist's life and hard times by using short interview excerpts from over 150 individualsfamily members (but not Pollock's widow, painter Lee Krasner), dealers, critics, fellow artists, and other East Hampton intimates. Unfortunately, this patchwork of psychologically charged anecdotes does not provide any real insights into the man as an artist. Scholars and others who want a more substantive biography should turn to B. H. Friedman's Jackson Pollock: energy made visible (1972). Paula A. Baxter, Museum of Modern Art Lib., New York Please note: McPherson & Company has informed us that Gianfranco Baruchello and Henry Martin's Why Duchamp ( LJ 11/15/85) is a Documentext (not Treacle Press) title.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:

That Pollock was a mean-spirited drunk, a fast, reckless driver, parasitical toward his brother, and abusive to women is abundantly clear from this "oral biography." Potter, who knew the artist for seven years in East Hampton, has interviewed some 150 peoplefamily members, fellow painters, art dealers, critics, neighbors, roommates, lovers. This chorus of voices, quoted in round-robin fashion, sound off at each juncture in Pollock's obsessively driven, alcoholic existence. It's good gossip, but Potter (author of Men, Money and Magic) never really ties the recollections together so that we can understand how Pollock transcended a messy life to create lyrical paintings of the unconscious. Even the thoughtful reminiscences often seem like pop psychoanalyzing (Clement Greenberg says, "He was so helpless, he expected you to feel sorry for him"). De Kooning, Motherwell and Rivers lead the cast of characters. Photos. December 16
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Putnam Pub Group
• Publication date: 1985
• ISBN 10: 0399129103
• ISBN 13: 9780399129100
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 303