Clement Greenberg

Definition

Clement Greenberg was a prominent American art critic known for his influential ideas on modernist art, particularly during the mid-20th century. He played a key role in promoting Abstract Expressionism and championed the works of artists like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Greenberg's emphasis on formalism, which focuses on the visual aspects of art rather than its content or context, shaped the direction of modern art criticism and theory.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Clement Greenberg believed that art should be self-referential and that the medium itself should define its purpose, leading to his famous assertion that 'the medium is the message.'
2. His essay 'Avant-Garde and Kitsch' published in 1939, distinguished between high art and popular culture, asserting that true art should challenge and elevate aesthetic standards.
3. Greenberg was instrumental in elevating the status of Abstract Expressionism as a leading movement in American art after World War II, promoting artists who embodied these ideals.
4. He advocated for the importance of flatness in painting, arguing that depth should be avoided to keep the focus on the surface of the artwork.
5. Throughout his career, Greenberg wrote extensively for various publications and helped shape the trajectory of American modern art criticism until his death in 1994.

Review Questions

• How did Clement Greenberg's views on formalism influence his critique of Abstract Expressionism?
  • Clement Greenberg's views on formalism significantly shaped his critique of Abstract Expressionism by emphasizing the importance of the medium and its inherent qualities. He believed that abstract artists like Pollock and Rothko were successful because they focused on visual elements such as color, line, and texture rather than representational content. This focus on flatness and the two-dimensional surface allowed Greenberg to argue that these artists were pushing the boundaries of what painting could achieve.
• Discuss how Greenberg's essay 'Avant-Garde and Kitsch' reflects his broader theories about art and culture.
  • In 'Avant-Garde and Kitsch,' Clement Greenberg reflects his broader theories by contrasting high art with mass-produced culture. He argued that avant-garde art serves a critical role in society by challenging norms and engaging viewers on a deeper aesthetic level. By categorizing kitsch as superficial and accessible to the masses, he emphasized the need for art to provoke thought and elevate taste, reinforcing his belief in the transformative power of true artistic expression.
• Evaluate the impact of Clement Greenberg's ideas on subsequent art movements and criticism beyond Abstract Expressionism.
  • Clement Greenberg's ideas had a lasting impact on subsequent art movements and criticism by establishing a framework that prioritized formalist analysis. His emphasis on medium specificity influenced later movements such as Minimalism and Post-Painterly Abstraction, which similarly focused on materials and form. As critics engaged with Greenberg's concepts, they either built upon or challenged his ideas, leading to diverse approaches in contemporary criticism that questioned traditional notions of aesthetics while reflecting on cultural context.

Related terms

Formalism: An approach to art criticism that emphasizes the formal qualities of an artwork, such as composition, color, and line, over content or context.

Abstract Expressionism: An art movement characterized by spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation, focusing on expressive and emotional content through abstract forms.

Modernism: A broad cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional forms of art, literature, and thought.