Winslow Homer: An American Vision » (REV)

This book is the first comprehensive critical survey of the artist written in the last decade and includes every one of his major paintings alongside a selection of his lesser known etchings and woodcuts. Griffin's thoroughly research yet readable study not only presents a full account of Homer's life and work, but also a fresh and provocative reassessment of his place in the history of American art.

Library Journal

It is seemingly not possible to have too many books devoted to iconic American artist Winslow Homer. In the past decade, scholars have examined the minutiae of Homer's life, revealing internal and external influences, conscious and unconscious motives, and every social and cultural stimulus that might have shaped his art. Added to this considerable mass of scholarship is a new monograph by Griffin (art history, Southern Methodist Univ.; Homer, Eakins & Anshutz: The Search for American Identity in the Gilded Age). What can Griffin possibly add to this flood of information? The answer is an eminently readable text that considers past scholarly discourses but, ultimately, like Nicolai Cikosky and Franklin Kelly's groundbreaking catalog, Winslow Homer, looks at the artist through the entire range of art he created. Griffin reemphasizes Homer's European and Japanese influences and adds revealing insights into the artist's use of pop-culture imagery in his works. With 140-plus color and 50 black-and-white images, this is recommended for all libraries with holdings in American art history.-Kraig Binkowski, Yale Ctr. for British Art Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.