Andrew Wyeth: Close Friends
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism
Andrew Wyeth: Close Friends Details
From Publishers Weekly Octogenarian artist Andrew Wyeth, of Christina's World and beyond, has maintained close friendships within the African-American community of Chadds Ford, Pa., where he was born and has lived since. Andrew Wythe: Close Friends presents more than 125 full-color, full-page reproductions of Wyeth's oil and watercolor portraits of his neighbors and friends, currently touring several small American museums. Wyeth's wife and collaborator, Betsy James Wyeth, provides an introduction, some family photos and commentary on the people and settings found in the work. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Read more From Booklist Much ink has been expended explaining the symbolism of Wyeth's famous paintings of figures in barren farm fields or inside barely furnished rooms. The artist's wife, Betsy James Wyeth, says in her one-page, six-paragraph introduction that the pictures in this book portray their African American friends, and R. Andrew Maass, who masterminded the exhibition that it complements, in effect says they are to be regarded as portrayals, pure and simple. These drawings, watercolors, and temperas are presented chronologically, accompanied by only the briefest descriptions or recollections, the latter usually the artist's remarks. That Wyeth's depictions are beautiful goes without saying. The duration and depth of his affection for his black neighbors is valuable and heartening, and this book will amply communicate that feeling to the painter's vast audience. Ray OlsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Read more See all Editorial Reviews
Reviews
The book reproduces 120 paintings and drawings, and also includes quite a few photographs and several handwritten letters. Most images come with comments from the artist, but those aren't as extensive as in "Autobiography". Unlike the latter book, "Close Friends" is organized thematically, not chronologically: a set of pictures of Willard Snowden, followed by a set of pictures of Sarita Daniels, then a set of portraits of Tom Clark, and so on. I'd say around 80% of the reproductions are of high quality, but the book has its share of images that are much too dark, and a few blurry ones. Formatting is almost exactly the same as in "Autobiography".While I wouldn't recommend this as the first Wyeth book to buy, for fans of the artist this is an indispensable volume. Apart from well-known pictures such as "The Drifter" and "April Wind", included are rarely seen oil paintings from the early 1930s ("Bill Loper with Big Tree Trunk", "High Wind", "Burial at Archies") and some of the earliest temperas ("Fall at Archies" from 1937 being a particularly interesting one). Then there are hard-to-find temperas such as "Oliver's Cap" and "Heat Lightning", a terrific reproduction of the drybrush "Granddaughter", a portrait of Snowden done with tempera on brown wrapping paper, and numerous other fascinating images. Also, contrary to what some reviews may lead you to believe, the book contains not only portraits, but also landscapes, interiors, still lifes, etc.All in all, if you're a fan, definitely buy this. Not only a chance to look at some rare works, but also a way to learn about all kinds of Chadds Ford people the Wyeths interacted with. You'll find information missing even from Merryman's biography.