Arshile Gorky A Retrospective of Drawings

Arshile Gorky (1904-1948) was a seminal figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement. His drawings are beautiful, complex, and sensual creations, the products of a technical mastery that bespoke a new power of abstraction within modern art. They are also pivotal to the understanding of his art and play a major part in the development and realization of his paintings. This handsome volume, and the exhibition it accompanies--the first retrospective ever assembled of this influential artist's drawings--focus on how Gorky's drawings function both in relation to his paintings and as individual works of art. Gorky's changing styles and precise approach to drawing are discussed in detail, and contrasted with the spontaneous and direct execution generally associated with Abstract Expressionism. The works range from small, intimate drawings to major, large-scale pieces; all are reproduced in superb full color. These rich and evocative drawings are an inspiration to new generations of artists and art lovers alike.