Ninth Street Women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler: Five Painters and the Movement That Changed Modern Art

This is one of, if not, the best books I have read. I knew nothing about this topic before reading this book. I'm not really sure why I purchased it but I could not stop reading it once I started. The author does an amazing job of transporting the reader back to this time period (1930s-1950s). She does an amazing job of writing in a style that reads like a novel yet is packed full of detail. Not only do you learn about the 5 women, you learn about the New York Art scene, the Hamptons and New York City during this time period. There are also excellent summaries of world history interspersed throughout many chapters. I can not say enough good things about this book.

This book is offers a fascinating glimpse into a particular kind of life in New York in the 40s and 50s.. I love books that do this. I recently read The Warhol Diaries which do the same. It is as much a social history as it is a biography of the five women painters whose stories are featured. It takes stamina to get through though. I have been reading it daily for many weeks and am still not yet 50% of the way through. In this respect, although meticulously researched and beautifully written, it may be just a tad too detailed for the general interest reader. UPDATE: I got to the end of the kindle version only to learn that the last 40% is notes and such - so not son long as I thought. Although there were times when I thought I would never get through this book there is something about it that really held my attention. It was captivating and I loved it. I am going to order the print version so that I can dip in and out and easily reread sections of it.

This book is much more than the tale of five important painters. It is the story of their artistic community and a rich slice of art history, and indeed US history. The author moves brilliantly from sweep of history to personal details. There is much rich material for thought from personal quirks to community dynamics to historical movements. What is very striking is the community that these artists and their colleagues built around themselves and how that community launched them. It is a stark contrast to today's atomized and monetized art world. If you care about art, and particularly this period, this is can't miss reading. It is a big commitment at over 700 ages before footnotes, but the detail is worth it.

I would have given this book ten stars if I could. It is an absolutely fantastic read. At first, I thought it might be too long and could have been more tightly edited, but once I started I couldn’t put it down and actually wished it had gone on longer. The book is meticulously researched, with thorough references and citations provided in the appendix, which adds greatly to its credibility and depth. This is a superb introduction to Abstract Expressionism and the era in which it emerged, told through the lives and work of five remarkable women who helped shape modern art. Highly recommended for art lovers and history readers alike.

I love the book. It did arrive on time with a small bank on the spine, but otherwise in very good condition

This is a great and thorough book. We see the introduction of the first and second generation abstract expressionists. More importantly, it introduces five women artists and tells their stories. The author seems to be even handed in the presentation of the trials faced by both male and female artists. It shows that as artists, they worked side by side. But it does present the question of what artists are considered important today. I believe that the book, by distinguishing between first and second generation recognizes that Pollock, DeKooning, Kline, Rothko will be recognized for their leadership in crating non-objective art. Although Elaine DeKooning and Lee Krasner were instrumental in their husbands' successes, this does not elevate their art to that same status. So, then the question is, how many second generation ABexes does the public know. Certainly Joan Mitchell and Helen Frankenthaler are known by most people who know a bit of art history. But, just like we have forgotten Michael Goldberg, Larry Rivers and other males, we have forgotten the females as well. Certainly, Joan Mitchell's talent is recognized and her art is undervalued compared to men's work. A long and slow correction is underway. And she has surpassed Jean-Paul Riopelle (sp?) who was more successful than Joan - so the better artist ultimately rose to the top. The book provides a substantial amount of information to thoughtfully discuss the issue of discrimination of female artists - Important and invaluable.

A ery important read for people who care about Women and American Modern ART!

A heavy read full of historical drama surrounding the most influential stars of the mid-century American Abstract Expressionist movement. The book will get you through a long, cold, winter in New York City or a long hot summer on upper Cape Cod.

I'm really enjoying this book. It takes me away to an early New York art scene, and is so well written that I am right there among them.

Several of the people who appear in that book were my friends and/or colleagues, I can personally vouch for the way this book brings them back to life. This is a period in the history of art during which painters were trying to connect with “the real” or “truth”, and desperately wanted to be true to the experience (whether it succeeded or failed), and most (not all) of those artists had no interest whatsoever in "chachkies-making” and/or careerism (times have changed drastically since). Highly recommended reading, with special attention to an immense artist far too little known, Joan Mitchell.

Bien documentado, muy interesante. Voy lento porque no es una novela pero te adentras en un momento fundamental para entender el arte moderno y contemporáneo

Tout d'abord il faut dire que le livre n'est qu'n anglais, et je doute que vu le sujet, même traduit, il trouve son public en France . Ceci dit, c'est une véritable révélation, documentée, fouillée, très bien écrit, on apprend énormément sur la vie et le travail de ces peintres dont souvent on ignore l'existence. En France on a coutume de prétendre que l'Ecole de New York a usurpé sa position dominante dans les années 50-60 mais ce livre démontre que n'est pas vrai. Il suffit d'étudier les oeuvres de cet époque; rien n'est volé , ce sont des oeuvres de grande qualité qui valent largement ce qui se faisait à Paris à la même époque. Il faut chercher les images sur le web pour comprendre la valeur de ces peintres qui ont tout sacrifié pour peindre.

Libro molto lungo e complesso