Meyer Schapiro's Critical Debates: Art Through a Modern American Mind

Meyer Schapiro, a renowned art historian, was a close friend to many famous artists and a scholar who engaged in public debates with major intellectuals of his time. This volume synthesizes his prolific career, demonstrating how Schapiro worked from the nexus of artistic and intellectual practice to confront twentieth-century questions. He pioneered interdisciplinary approaches to interpreting visual art, including formal analyses, Marxist interpretations, psychoanalytic critiques, and semiotic explorations. C. Oliver ODonnells study is structured chronologically around eight defining debates in which Schapiro participated, tracing his philosophical evolution and its impact on art history, modernism, and intellectual history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2020
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

Meyer Schapiro, hailed as the preeminent art historian in American history, possessed a remarkable dual role. Not only did he forge close friendships with numerous renowned artists of his generation, but he also engaged in spirited public debates with some of the foremost intellectuals of his time. This comprehensive volume, the first to synthesize Schapiro's prolific career, showcases how he seamlessly merged artistic and intellectual practices to address some of the most enduring questions of the twentieth century.

Renowned for his pioneering interdisciplinary approaches to interpreting visual art, Schapiro's extensive formal analyses in the 1920s, Marxist interpretations in the 1930s, psychoanalytic critiques in the 1950s and 1960s, and semiotic explorations in the 1970s all contributed to expanding the horizons of inquiry. C. Oliver ODonnell's meticulously researched study, organized chronologically around eight pivotal debates in which Schapiro participated, delves into the philosophical evolution of Schapiro and his profound impact on the field of art history.

Through a thoughtful analysis of these intellectual exchanges, ODonnell traces Schapiro's philosophical development and its connections to the evolution of art history as a discipline, the central tensions of artistic modernism, and the broader tapestry of modern intellectual history. This comprehensive and compelling study brings together the diverse strands of Schapiro's work, creating a cohesive and illuminating portrait of his profound influence.

In conclusion, Meyer Schapiro's remarkable career as an art historian and intellectual provocateur has left an indelible mark on the field. Through his interdisciplinary approaches, his intellectual debates, and his profound insights, Schapiro has not only enriched our understanding of visual art but also contributed to shaping the broader contours of twentieth-century modernism. This study serves as a testament to his enduring legacy and the lasting impact he has had on the world of art history.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 214 x 325 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271084657