12.5 Art criticism and journals

Art criticism evolved dramatically after 1945, mirroring the radical changes in artistic practices. Critics played a key role in shaping discourse around new movements and challenging traditional values. The field expanded to include diverse perspectives and theoretical frameworks.

Art journals became crucial platforms for critical debates and theoretical developments. Publications like Artforum, October, and Art in America shaped discourse around contemporary art and influenced artistic production, serving as sites of intellectual exchange between critics, artists, and scholars.

Evolution of art criticism

• Postwar art criticism evolved alongside radical changes in artistic practices, reflecting broader cultural shifts and intellectual developments
• Critics played a crucial role in shaping discourse around emerging art movements and challenging traditional aesthetic values
• The field of art criticism expanded to incorporate diverse perspectives, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks

Postwar critical landscape

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• Dominated by formalist approaches championed by influential critics like Clement Greenberg
• Focused on formal qualities of artworks such as color, line, and composition
• Emphasized medium specificity and the pursuit of "pure" art forms
• Privileged abstract art, particularly Abstract Expressionism, as the pinnacle of modernist achievement

Shift from formalism

• Began in the 1960s as new art movements challenged formalist criteria
• Critics developed more flexible interpretive strategies to address conceptual, performance, and installation art
• Increased attention to social, political, and cultural contexts of artworks
• Emergence of interdisciplinary approaches drawing from philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies

Rise of pluralistic approaches

• Rejection of single, dominant critical paradigm in favor of multiple perspectives
• Incorporation of poststructuralist, feminist, and postcolonial theories into art criticism
• Growing emphasis on viewer experience and participatory interpretations
• Expansion of critical discourse to include non-Western art and marginalized voices

Key art journals

• Art journals served as crucial platforms for critical debates and theoretical developments in postwar art
• These publications shaped the discourse around contemporary art and influenced artistic production
• Major art journals became sites of intellectual exchange between critics, artists, and scholars

Artforum and October

• Artforum founded in 1962, became a leading voice in contemporary art criticism
• Known for in-depth critical essays and reviews of cutting-edge exhibitions
• October launched in 1976 as a more theory-driven alternative to Artforum
• Focused on avant-garde art and critical theory, particularly poststructuralism
• Both journals significantly influenced academic art history and criticism

Art in America

• Established in 1913, transformed into a contemporary art-focused publication in the postwar era
• Balanced coverage of established and emerging artists
• Featured a mix of reviews, artist profiles, and thematic essays
• Played a key role in introducing American audiences to international art trends

Flash Art and Frieze

• Flash Art founded in 1967, focused on emerging artists and new art movements
• Known for its global perspective and coverage of non-Western art scenes
• Frieze launched in 1991, coinciding with the rise of Young British Artists (YBAs)
• Emphasized accessible writing and visual appeal, bridging academic and popular audiences
• Both journals expanded into art fair organizations, further influencing the art market

Critical theories and movements

• Postwar art criticism was shaped by various theoretical frameworks and intellectual movements
• These theories provided new tools for interpreting and evaluating contemporary art
• Critical approaches often reflected broader cultural and philosophical shifts

Greenbergian formalism

• Developed by Clement Greenberg in the 1940s and 1950s
• Emphasized the importance of medium specificity and "flatness" in painting
• Argued for the progressive elimination of illusionistic elements in modernist art
• Championed Abstract Expressionism as the culmination of modernist painting
• Influenced generations of critics and artists, but later faced significant challenges

Poststructuralism in criticism

• Emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, drawing on French philosophy (Derrida, Foucault, Barthes)
• Questioned the stability of meaning and the authority of the artist/critic
• Emphasized the role of language and discourse in shaping artistic interpretation
• Influenced the development of semiotics and deconstruction in art criticism
• Led to more open-ended and reader-centered approaches to interpretation

Feminist art criticism

• Gained prominence in the 1970s alongside the feminist art movement
• Challenged male-dominated art historical narratives and critical perspectives
• Examined gender representation in art and the exclusion of women artists from the canon
• Developed new methodologies for analyzing art that considered gender, sexuality, and power
• Expanded to intersectional approaches addressing race, class, and other identity factors

Role of critics

• Art critics played multifaceted roles in shaping the postwar art world
• Their influence extended beyond mere evaluation to actively participating in art's development
• Critics often mediated between artists, institutions, and the public

Tastemakers and gatekeepers

• Critics wielded significant power in determining which artists and movements gained recognition
• Wrote influential reviews that could make or break an artist's career
• Served on juries for major art prizes and exhibitions
• Advised collectors and institutions on acquisitions and programming
• Faced criticism for potential conflicts of interest and outsized influence

Interpreters of new art

• Provided frameworks for understanding challenging or experimental artworks
• Contextualized new art movements within broader cultural and historical trends
• Developed specialized vocabulary to describe emerging artistic practices
• Engaged in dialogue with artists, often shaping the discourse around their work
• Wrote catalogue essays and monographs that became part of art's historical record

Bridges between artists and public

• Translated complex artistic concepts for general audiences
• Wrote accessible reviews and articles in mainstream publications
• Gave public lectures and led gallery tours to educate viewers
• Advocated for public funding and support of contemporary art
• Facilitated dialogue between artists and viewers through critical writing

Writing styles and formats

• Art criticism encompassed various writing styles and formats to address different audiences
• Critics adapted their approaches to suit the changing landscape of art and media
• Different formats served distinct purposes within the art world ecosystem

Exhibition reviews

• Typically shorter form writing, often published in newspapers or art magazines
• Described and evaluated individual exhibitions or artworks
• Provided context for the artist's practice and place within art history
• Often included subjective judgments and recommendations for viewers
• Served as important documentation of ephemeral exhibitions and events

Artist profiles

• In-depth explorations of an artist's life, work, and creative process
• Often included interviews with the artist and studio visits
• Traced the development of an artist's career and major themes in their work
• Provided insight into the artist's influences, techniques, and conceptual approaches
• Frequently published in art magazines, monographs, or exhibition catalogues

Theoretical essays

• Longer form writing that engaged with broader ideas and debates in art theory
• Often published in academic journals or anthologies
• Developed new conceptual frameworks for understanding art and its cultural significance
• Analyzed trends across multiple artists or movements
• Incorporated interdisciplinary perspectives from philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies

Impact on art market

• Art criticism significantly influenced the commercial aspects of the art world
• Critics' opinions often affected an artist's market value and collectibility
• The relationship between criticism and the market became increasingly complex in the postwar era

Critical reception vs sales

• Positive critical reception did not always correlate with commercial success
• Some critically acclaimed artists struggled financially while others achieved high sales
• Market trends sometimes diverged from critical consensus, leading to debates about art's value
• Critics grappled with the tension between artistic merit and market demand
• Some artists and movements gained delayed market recognition following critical reassessment

Gallery and museum relationships

• Critics often maintained close relationships with galleries and museums
• Wrote catalogue essays and curatorial statements for exhibitions
• Potential conflicts of interest arose when critics championed artists they had personal connections to
• Some critics transitioned into curatorial roles, further blurring lines between criticism and institutions
• Galleries and museums sought critical validation to enhance their prestige and market position

Influence on collecting trends

• Critical writing helped shape collectors' tastes and purchasing decisions
• Positive reviews could increase demand for an artist's work and drive up prices
• Critics sometimes advised private collectors and corporate collections
• Critical reassessment of overlooked artists or movements could spark new collecting trends
• Some critics raised concerns about the commodification of art and the influence of wealthy collectors

Digital age criticism

• The rise of digital technologies transformed the landscape of art criticism
• New platforms emerged, challenging traditional print media's dominance
• The democratization of critical voices led to both opportunities and challenges

Online platforms and blogs

• Emergence of art-focused websites and blogs in the late 1990s and early 2000s
• Allowed for more immediate and frequent publishing of critical writing
• Reduced barriers to entry for new critical voices
• Enabled multimedia content integration (images, videos, interactive elements)
• Some online platforms gained significant influence (Hyperallergic, e-flux)

Social media as critical space

• Platforms like Instagram and Twitter became sites for art discourse
• Artists and critics engaged directly with audiences, bypassing traditional gatekeepers
• Enabled real-time reactions to exhibitions and art events
• Facilitated global conversations and connections among art world participants
• Raised questions about the depth and quality of criticism in short-form formats

Democratization of art discourse

• Increased diversity of critical voices and perspectives
• Challenged the authority of established critics and institutions
• Enabled underrepresented artists and critics to gain visibility
• Led to more informal and accessible forms of critical writing
• Raised concerns about the dilution of expertise and critical standards

Notable postwar critics

• Influential critics shaped the discourse around postwar art through their writing and ideas
• Their debates and theoretical contributions had lasting impacts on art history and criticism
• Many critics aligned themselves with specific movements or approaches to art

Clement Greenberg vs Harold Rosenberg

• Greenberg championed formalism and Abstract Expressionism
• Emphasized the importance of "flatness" and medium specificity in painting
• Rosenberg coined the term "Action Painting" to describe Abstract Expressionist works
• Focused on the existential and performative aspects of artistic creation
• Their competing interpretations of Abstract Expressionism dominated 1950s criticism

Lucy Lippard and conceptual art

• Pioneered feminist art criticism and championed conceptual art in the 1960s and 1970s
• Wrote influential books (Six Years: The Dematerialization of the Art Object)
• Organized groundbreaking exhibitions of conceptual and feminist art
• Developed the concept of "dematerialization" in art
• Advocated for socially engaged and activist art practices

Arthur Danto and end of art

• Philosopher-critic who proposed the "end of art" thesis in the 1980s
• Argued that art had entered a post-historical phase without a dominant narrative
• Developed the concept of the "artworld" as a context for defining art
• Wrote extensively on Pop Art, particularly Andy Warhol's work
• Influenced the development of institutional theories of art

Criticism and artistic movements

• Art criticism played a crucial role in defining and interpreting major postwar art movements
• Critics often engaged in heated debates about the merits and meanings of new artistic approaches
• Critical reception shaped the historical narratives around various movements

Abstract Expressionism debates

• Critics like Greenberg and Rosenberg championed Abstract Expressionism in the 1950s
• Debates centered on formalist vs existentialist interpretations of the movement
• Critics emphasized the American character of Abstract Expressionism during the Cold War
• Later revisionist critiques examined the movement's gender biases and political contexts
• Critical support helped establish Abstract Expressionism's dominant position in modernist narratives

Pop Art reception

• Initially met with mixed critical reactions in the early 1960s
• Some critics dismissed Pop as shallow and commercial (Greenberg)
• Others celebrated its engagement with mass culture and contemporary life (Lawrence Alloway)
• Critics debated whether Pop Art critiqued or embraced consumer culture
• Pop Art's critical reception challenged established notions of high art and artistic value

Minimalism and conceptual art discourse

• Critics developed new frameworks to interpret these challenging movements
• Minimalism sparked debates about the role of the viewer and phenomenological experience
• Conceptual art pushed critics to engage with ideas and processes rather than physical objects
• Critics like Lucy Lippard and Joseph Kosuth wrote as both advocates and theorists of conceptual art
• These movements prompted broader discussions about the definition and limits of art

Global perspectives

• Postwar art criticism gradually expanded beyond Western-centric viewpoints
• Critics and scholars challenged Eurocentric narratives in art history and criticism
• The emergence of global art markets and biennials necessitated more diverse critical approaches

Western-centric vs diverse voices

• Traditional art criticism often privileged Western art and perspectives
• Gradual inclusion of non-Western critics and scholars in major publications
• Increased attention to artists from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East
• Critics began to question the universality of Western aesthetic criteria
• Debates arose about how to approach cultural differences in art criticism

Postcolonial critiques

• Emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, drawing on postcolonial theory (Said, Spivak, Bhabha)
• Examined the legacy of colonialism in art production, exhibition, and criticism
• Challenged the exoticization and othering of non-Western art in Western criticism
• Advocated for the repatriation of cultural artifacts and the recognition of indigenous art practices
• Influenced the development of more globally conscious curatorial and critical approaches

Non-Western art journals

• Establishment of influential journals focused on non-Western art (Third Text, Nka)
• Provided platforms for critics and scholars from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Explored issues of identity, diaspora, and globalization in contemporary art
• Facilitated cross-cultural dialogue and exchange of ideas
• Contributed to the decentering of Western art historical narratives