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ARCH.2003.35, Rendition: 805009
This image captures a vintage newspaper clipping pasted onto a larger page, likely from a scrapbook or archive. The clipping is from the Sunday Republican in Springfield, Massachusetts, dated January 27, 1953.
The article, titled "Somebody Should Have 'Edited' Motherwell's Art," is a harsh review by Wayne C. Smith of an exhibition of abstract works by the artist Robert Motherwell at the Smith College Museum of Art. The tone of the piece is highly critical, dismissive, and sardonic. The author describes the abstract paintings as "trash" and "collages of garbage," comparing the exhibition to "The Emperor's New Clothes" and arguing that the art lacks real substance, technical skill, or aesthetic value.
The clipping is divided into two columns:
Between the two sections of the article, there is a small inset titled "New Art Books," which briefly mentions new library acquisitions of books on Dutch painting and art history, providing a stark contrast to the scathing critique of Motherwell's modernism. The overall document provides a fascinating historical snapshot of the intense cultural pushback that mid-century abstract expressionist artists often faced from conservative critics and the general public.
This image displays an open, aged newspaper clipping or magazine page, presented as if laid flat within a book or binder. The paper is yellowed, suggesting it is a historical document from the mid-20th century.
The page is dominated by text, formatted into multiple columns. The main headline, in large, bold type, reads: “Somebody Should Have ‘Edited’ Motherwell’s Art”. The article is authored by Wayne C. Smith and is categorized under “From the Galleries”.
The central article is a scathing art review of painter Robert Motherwell, criticizing his Abstract Impressionist works. Smith denounces the exhibition at the Smith College Museum of Art as a collection of “trash,” lamenting “Poor English Usage, Undisciplined, Ergo a Savory Collection of Trash.” He accuses Motherwell’s art of lacking substance, with “meanings...where nothing of any significance was intended,” and critiques its “dripping brush of black paint” and “large canvas painted entirely in black.”
The article is densely packed with opinionated prose, attacking both the artist and the institutions that support him, including the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. Smith also criticizes the “New Art Books” section on the right, calling the accompanying texts “unilluminating” and dismissive of the art’s “profound significance.”
A smaller, boxed section titled “Esoteric Formulae” on the right column continues the critique, mocking the “newspaper people” and their inability to appreciate “the profundities of the recipes” in Motherwell’s work.
Red handwritten lines and a checkmark are visible at the bottom of one column, likely added later by a reader to highlight or mark a point of interest.
In the upper left corner, a stamp from the “New England Newspaper Agency, Inc.” identifies the source as the Springfield, Mass., Sunday Republican, Jan. 27, 1963, with cataloging details (Circ. 111,659, Jan 27, 1963, P654).
Overall, the image captures a moment of intense cultural debate, showcasing a passionate, negative review of avant-garde art from a conservative perspective. The physical state of the paper and the handwritten annotation add to its historical and personal character.
The image appears to be a photograph of a page from a printed document, likely a newspaper or magazine, that contains an article. The page is yellowed, suggesting it is from an older publication. The article is titled "From the Galleries" and discusses an exhibition of Robert Motherwell's artwork at the Smith College Museum of Art. The text criticizes the exhibited abstract impressionist works, comparing them unfavorably to "poor English usage" and describing them as "undisciplined" and "a savory collection of trash." The author, Wayne C. Smith, expresses disgust at the exhibition and the honor it is receiving. The article includes references to other art books and discussions about the intellectual and artistic standards of the time. The page also includes some marginalia, with annotations and underlines in red ink, possibly indicating areas of particular interest or concern. The overall tone of the article is highly critical and dismissive of the exhibited artwork.
This image shows a page from a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings. The main clipping is from the "Sunday Republican" of Springfield, Massachusetts, dated January 27, 1963. The article is titled "Somebody Should Have 'Edited' Motherwell's Art" and is written by Wayne C. Smith. The article discusses an exhibition of paintings, collages, and prints by Robert Motherwell at the Smith College Museum of Art.
The article criticizes the abstract impressionist work, comparing it to "poor English usage" and describing it as an "undisciplined, ergo a savory collection of trash." It also mentions that the exhibition is being given great honors at the museum and includes pieces from other art museums.
Another smaller clipping on the page is titled "Esoteric Formulae" and discusses the appreciation of abstract art and the role of critics in the art world. It mentions the freedom of artists to paint whatever they want and the need for a stricter degree of criticism.
The page is from a scrapbook with a dark cover, and the paper of the clippings is yellowed, indicating the age of the document.
An open book with a black cover and a white page is placed on a surface. The page has text written on it. The text on the left side is written in a red color, and the text on the right side is written in a black color. The page has a few lines of text. The text on the right side is written in a smaller font.
The image shows a page from a newspaper or magazine, featuring an article titled "Somebody Should Have Edited Motherwell's Art." The article criticizes the work of Robert Motherwell, an Abstract Impressionist artist, for its poor English usage, undisciplined style, and inclusion of what the author considers a "savory collection of trash." The article suggests that someone should have edited Motherwell's art to improve its quality. The page also includes other articles and advertisements, with a black border on the left side and a black and white border on the right side.
The image shows an open book, likely a newspaper or magazine, with visible text on two facing pages. The left page is titled "Somebody Should Have 'Edited' Motherwell's Art" and is subtitled "Abstract Impressionist's Work at Smith, Like Poor English Usage, Undisciplined, Ergo a Savory Collection of Trash" by Wayne C. Smith. The article discusses an exhibition of Robert Motherwell's artwork at Smith College, critiquing his style as undisciplined and comparing it to poor English usage. The text is dense and appears to be an opinion piece or review, with a critical tone.
The right page features two columns of text. The left column is titled "Ezoterie Formulan" and discusses a newspaper or publication that presents itself as an artistic form, referencing themes of art, commerce, and the role of artists in society. The right column is titled "New Art Books" and appears to be a review or commentary on new art-related publications, mentioning artists such as Karl Knaths, Hans Hofmann, Piet Mondrian, and Alberto Giacometti, among others. The text is formatted in a typical newspaper style, with dense paragraphs and a mix of critical and descriptive commentary.
The book itself has aged pages with a yellowish tint, indicating it is an older publication. The spine is visible on the left side, showing the book's binding. The overall layout and typography suggest it is from the mid-20th century, consistent with the date mentioned at the top of the left page: Sunday Republican, Springfield, Mass., Jan. 27, 1969. The content reflects a period of active art criticism and discussion, particularly focusing on abstract expressionism and contemporary art movements.
The image depicts an open book with a newspaper clipping attached to the left page. The clipping is from the Sunday Republican, Springfield, Mass., dated January 27, 1963, and features an article titled "From the Galleries" by Wayne C. Smith. The article discusses Robert Motherwell's art exhibition at the Smith College Museum of Art, with a subheading that reads, "Somebody Should Have 'Edited' Motherwell's Art." The article is accompanied by a smaller clipping on the right page, which appears to be a review of a book titled "New Art Books." The background of the image is a plain gray color.
The image depicts an open book with a newspaper clipping inserted between its pages. The clipping is titled "Somebody Should Have 'Edited' Motherwell's Art" and features a column of text on a beige background, accompanied by two smaller columns to the right.
Book Details
Newspaper Clipping
Background
Overall, the image appears to be a scanned or photographed page from a book or archive, showcasing a unique and interesting piece of art history.
The image shows a newspaper clipping from the Springfield Sunday Republican, dated January 27, 1963, pasted on a page in a scrapbook. The clipping is titled "Somebody Should Have 'Edited' Motherwell's Art" and features an article by Wayne C. Smith.
Newspaper Clipping Details:
Scrapbook Page:
Overall Impression:
The image appears to be a page from a scrapbook or archive, showcasing a critical review of Robert Motherwell's art exhibition. The yellowed page and old newspaper clipping suggest that the scrapbook is likely from the 1960s or earlier.