“The Avant-Garde and Kitsch” by Clement Greenberg (1939) This seminal essay by the influential American critic Clement Greenberg drew a distinction between avant-garde art and kitsch, defining the avant-garde as a progressive force that challenges artistic conventions and kitsch as a commercialised, mass-produced form of art catering to popular taste. It had a significant impact on the understanding of modernist art movements.
“Modernist Painting” by Clement Greenberg (1960) Another influential essay by Greenberg that outlined his formalist approach to art criticism, emphasising the importance of medium specificity and the pursuit of flatness and purity in modern painting.
“The American Action Painters” by Harold Rosenberg (1952) Rosenberg’s essay introduced the concept of “action painting,” which became closely associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement. It shifted the focus from the finished artwork to the creative process and the artist’s physical engagement with the canvas.
“Artworld” by Arthur C. Danto (1964) In this essay, Danto proposed the concepts of “Imitation Theory” and “Reality Theory” to explain the mechanisms of defining art, particularly in relation to the avant-garde and post-impressionist movements.
“Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” by Linda Nochlin (1971) Nochlin’s groundbreaking essay challenged the traditional male-dominated narratives in art history and argued for a feminist intervention in the discipline, paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse understanding of art.
“Notes on the Index: Seventies Art in America” by Douglas Crimp (1979) This influential essay by Crimp introduced the concept of “postmodernism” in art and critiqued the modernist formalist approach championed by Greenberg and others.
“The Allegorical Impulse: Toward a Theory of Postmodernism” by Craig Owens (1980) Owens’ essay explored the concept of allegory as a key strategy in postmodern art, challenging the modernist emphasis on purity and autonomy.
“The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge” by Jean-François Lyotard (1979) While not specifically focused on art criticism, Lyotard’s influential work on postmodernism and its critique of grand narratives had a significant impact on the understanding of postmodern art and theory.
“After the Great Divide: Modernism, Mass Culture, Postmodernism” by Andreas Huyssen (1986) Huyssen’s essay challenged the strict separation between high art and mass culture, arguing for a more inclusive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding postmodern art and culture.
“The Allegorical Impulse: Toward a Theory of Postmodernism, Part 2” by Craig Owens (1980) A continuation of Owens’ influential essay on allegory and postmodernism, further exploring the concept’s relevance to contemporary art practices.
These essays, among others, have played a crucial role in shaping the discourse around modern and contemporary art, introducing new concepts, challenging existing paradigms, and fostering debates that continue to influence art criticism and theory today.
[1] Art criticism - 20th Century, Analysis, Interpretation | Britannica https://www.britannica.com/art/art-criticism/Art-criticism-in-the-20th-century
[2] 7 Important Art Essays | Widewalls https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/art-essays
[3] About Modern Art: Critical Essays 1948–96 - Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/About-Modern-Art-Critical-1948–96/dp/0712673539
[4] The 10 Essays That Changed Art Criticism Forever - Artspace https://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/know-your-critics/the-10-essays-that-changed-art-criticism-forever-54846
[5] Modern Art: Selected Essays, Steinberg, Schwartz, Meyer https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/M/bo197063381.html