Product Description

BACK IN PRINT WITH 37 ADDITIONAL IMAGES NOW IN COLOR “This mammoth repository of images and essays redefines mid-century modernism. A stunning showcase.” —Publishers Weekly “Comprehensive, well-written, engaging.”—ARTnews

Design 1935–1965: What Modern Was presents a definitive and distinct perspective on the decorative arts of the mid-20th century—a period that has only grown in popularity since the book was first published in 1991. Now back in print with 37 new full-color plates of formerly black-and-white images, it is certain to be reaffirmed as a classic of design literature.

The encyclopedic, stunningly illustrated volume spotlights seminal objects from the period’s most significant innovators, including the Eames’s iconic chairs; Noguchi’s sculptural lamps; Sottsass’s early, rebellious furniture; as well as jewelry, ceramics, and textiles by a range of contemporary masters. Renowned historian Paul Johnson’s thought-provoking essay provides a sociopolitical context for the works, and noted experts in various design fields offer a wealth of information.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1094421 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 424 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Charles and Ray Eames's plywood lounge chair, Isamu Noguchi's Japanese-inspired lamps and Russell Wright's "American modern" dinnerware are among the 200 objects, made between 1935 and 1965, spotlighted in this stunning showcase. The catalogue of a traveling exhibition, this mammoth repository of images and essays redefines mid-century modernism. Historian Johnson sets the stage with an examination of the sociopolitical forces that fostered the democratization of art and the development of a rational aesthetic. Led by Rutgers art historian Eidelberg, 15 scholars track the 1930s and '40s "streamlining" style in locomotives, jukeboxes and clocks, then trace biomorphism in rugs, tables, an Eva Zeisel teapot and Eero Saarinen's TWA terminal at New York's Kennedy Airport. Expressionism is shown to be a common denominator in Peter Voulkos's ceramics, Lenore Tawney's fiber sculptures and Irena Brynner's jewelry. One provocative finding is that modern design, from its inception, has ransacked past historical styles.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
MARTIN EIDELBERG has been professor of art history at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, since 1964. He has contributed to several important books on design, including Abrams’ Masterworks of Louis Comfort Tiffany and Design in America: The Cranbrook Vision 1925-1950.

PAUL JOHNSON is the author of several books, including A History of the American People, Modern Times: The World from the Twenties to the Nineties, A History of the Jews, and A History of Christianity.

Customer Reviews

Modern in the Past Tense
A comprehensive survey of the decorative arts from 1935 through 1965 but unfortunately I was disappointed by the editorial arrangement of this book. It is basically encyclopaedic in nature but the editors decided to split it into the following chapters, Streamline Modern, Biomorphic modern, Modern historicism, Postwar modernism, Modern pattern and ornament, Expressionist modern and finally Beyond Modern. Many of the artists mentioned, of course, easily drop into one or more of these periods. For example, Finnish designer Timo Sarpaneva's work is featured three times, vases from 1950 and 1953 and a 1955 glass decanter, each is pictured and described in detail with additional related information and at the back of the book is his biography. I really feel it would have been more appropriate to have each artist's work and bio in one place and the essays, defining the various styles, together at the front of the book.

I was impressed by the range of the artists and designers covered in this survey, not just the fine arts of Miro and Dali but also the graphics of Herbert Matter and Milton Glaser and even the creative contributions of companies like Herman Miller and Polaroid. The authors have rightly considered all aspects of mid-century creativity.

The scope of the book is North American and Europe but if you want to concentrate on America have a look at the two volume, 'The American Century: Art and Culture' (1900-1950 ISBN 0393047237 and 1950-2000 ISBN 0393048152) by Barbara Haskell and Lisa Phillips. I found these two books very comprehensive in their coverage and also visually quite stunning to look at with their hundreds of illustrations.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.