Joan Mitchell (1925–1992) was fearless in her experimentation, creating works of unparalleled beauty, strength, and emotional intensity. This gorgeous book unfolds the story of an artistic master of the highest order, revealing the ways she expanded abstract painting and illuminating the transatlantic contexts that shaped her. Lavish illustrations cover the full arc of her artistic practice, from her exceptional New York paintings of the early 1950s to the majestic multipanel compositions she made in France later in her career. Signature works are represented here along with rarely seen paintings, works on paper, artist’s sketchbooks, and photographs of Mitchell’s life, social circle, and surroundings.
Featuring scholarly texts, in-depth essays, and artistic and literary responses, this book is organized in ten chronological chapters. Each chapter centers on a closely related suite of paintings, illuminating a shifting inner landscape colored by experience, sensation, memory, and a deep sense of place. Presenting groundbreaking research and a variety of perspectives on her art, life, and connections to poetry and music, this unprecedented volume is an essential reference for Mitchell’s admirers and those just discovering her work.
Reviews (11)
Beautiful art book
This is a beautiful, high quality art book. Worthy of taking a prominent place on a coffee table. Lots of color plates and even some fold-out pages (centerfold style). Plenty of great images to make any Joan Mitchell fan, like me, happy.
Superb book with wonderful essays and color plates.
I was on the fence about buying this monograph, but didn't know that much about Joan Mitchell. I'm very happy I decided to get it to add to my collection. This is one terrific monograph with many well-written essays and a full range of full color plates. The pictures are very clear and colors are vivid. The paper used is heavy and binding is great. If you are a JM fan this should make you a happy camper!! Davo
Gorgeous. Worth every penny
This book is beautifully, thoughtfully designed and printed. The color plates are high quality. And it provides an excellent overview of the woman and her work. If you are a fan of Mitchell's or the Abstract Expressionist period, this really should be in your collection. Highly recommended.
A Deserved, Definitive Overview
I highly, highly recommend this exhibition catalog. It provides a much-needed overview of Joan Mitchell's career, complemented by generous illustrations. Most of the text is a 10 chapter narrative written by Roberts and Siegel, who had access to the painter's archive. This commentary is supplemented by three essays focusing on more specific themes, and there is a section at the end of shorter texts including conservator interviews, remembrances, musical commentaries, and poetry. There are 10 short catalog entries dedicated to specific works written by an array of authors, as well as a handful of spreads with many smaller reproductions of fascinating archival images. The scale and ambition of this book are on par with the 2011 MoMA de Kooning retrospective, as they should be. I have not yet read the book cover to cover, but I have spent much time with it and anticipate returning to it frequently. Physically, the book is heavy and the pages are thick; it is handsomely designed and durable. While the text is excellent, the thrill of the catalog is in the extraordinary reproductions (as one would expect from YUP). There are several fold-outs as well as full-page color reproductions of many important works in vibrant color. A welcome addition to the literature, if not the definitive overview for decades to come. I have included images of the table of contents, plates, foldouts, archival images, and a catalog entry. Due to some of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the multiple venues, there is not a list of the works exhibited.
Fabulous Book
Love Love this edition Have many of her books! Fabulous
A great book on a great artist.
Many glorious reproductions of her paintings, some never seen before.
Great images.
Beautiful book. Well worth the wait.
Comprehensive, accessible, complete one-stop shop to Joan Mitchell’s awesome abstract expressionism
This is an outstanding, and beautifully designed, monograph. It is amongst the most extensive and comprehensive single volumes ever published on Mitchell’s work (I have an almost complete library of titles on her). It includes numerous essays and vignettes by a wide range of voices, as well as a sequence of chapters reflecting her evolution as an artist. The wonderfully illustrated title is in fact a catalogue for an exhibition which is planned for the Baltimore Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2022. Though not listed within the publication, the show is due to travel afterwards to the Vuitton Foundation in Paris, where I will relish seeing it. This is the most comprehensive and insightful volume since the Museum Ludwig retrospective catalogue accompanying their show I saw in Cologne in 2016. Highly recommended.
excellent book
So pleased to find a book on Joan Mitchell rather than borrowing from the library or having to pay over ridiculous prices for one of her books . because its not longer been published. Great content.
Wonderful
Excellent book.
Beautiful art book
This is a beautiful, high quality art book. Worthy of taking a prominent place on a coffee table. Lots of color plates and even some fold-out pages (centerfold style). Plenty of great images to make any Joan Mitchell fan, like me, happy.
