CG

Clement Greenberg

36quotes

Clement Greenberg: A Pioneer of Modern Art Criticism


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Full Name and Common Aliases


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Clement Greenberg was born as Clements Gehnrich, later changing his name to Clement Greenberg. He is often referred to by his initials, CG.

Birth and Death Dates


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Born on January 6, 1909, in Brooklyn, New York City, USA, Clement Greenberg passed away on May 7, 1994, at the age of 85.

Nationality and Profession(s)


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Greenberg was an American art critic, historian, and philosopher. His expertise spanned multiple fields, including modern and contemporary art, theory, and criticism.

Early Life and Background


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Clement Greenberg's early life was marked by a tumultuous childhood. Born to Russian Jewish immigrant parents, he grew up in a family of modest means. His father, Max Gehnrich, owned a small candy store in Brooklyn. This exposure to art and commerce would later influence Greenberg's critical perspectives on modern art.

Greenberg attended City College of New York, where he studied English literature. However, it was during his time at the Art Students League of New York that he discovered his passion for art criticism. He began writing reviews for various publications, including _The Nation_ and _The Partisan Review_.

Major Accomplishments


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Greenberg's work had a profound impact on modern art theory and criticism. Some of his notable achievements include:

Advocate for Modern Art: Greenberg played a crucial role in popularizing and defending modern art, particularly Abstract Expressionism. He saw these movements as essential to the development of modern culture.
 Theory of Medium-Specificity: In his influential essay "Modernist Painting" (1960), Greenberg proposed that each medium has its unique properties, which should be respected and exploited in art. This idea has had far-reaching implications for art theory and practice.

Notable Works or Actions


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Greenberg's most notable works include:

"Avant-Garde and Kitsch" (1939): In this seminal essay, Greenberg critiques the popularization of modern art, arguing that it has been corrupted by mass production and commercialism.
 "Modernist Painting" (1960): As mentioned earlier, this essay outlines Greenberg's theory of medium-specificity, cementing his status as a leading art critic of his time.

Impact and Legacy


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Greenberg's influence on modern art criticism and theory is immense. His ideas have shaped the way we think about art, from the importance of medium-specificity to the role of the artist in society. Many notable artists, including Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, were influenced by his writings.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


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Clement Greenberg's impact on modern art theory and criticism has made him a household name among art historians and enthusiasts alike. His contributions to the development of modern art are undeniable, and his legacy continues to inspire artists, curators, and critics today.

Greenberg's influence extends beyond the art world, with his ideas informing broader discussions about culture, technology, and society. As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern life, Greenberg's thought-provoking writings remain a valuable resource for understanding our place in the world.

With his unwavering commitment to modern art and its values, Clement Greenberg left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of the 20th century.

Quotes by Clement Greenberg

I myself happen to find, on the basis of experience and nothing else, that photography can be a high art.
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I myself happen to find, on the basis of experience and nothing else, that photography can be a high art.
CG
The difficulty of carrying on a leisure-oriented tradition of culture in a work-oriented society is enough in itself to keep the present crisis in our culture unresolved.
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The difficulty of carrying on a leisure-oriented tradition of culture in a work-oriented society is enough in itself to keep the present crisis in our culture unresolved.
CG
The superior artist is the one who knows how to be influenced.
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The superior artist is the one who knows how to be influenced.
CG
A large picture can give us images of things, but a relatively small one can best re-create the instantaneous unity of nature as a view – the unity of which the eyes take in at a single glance.
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A large picture can give us images of things, but a relatively small one can best re-create the instantaneous unity of nature as a view – the unity of which the eyes take in at a single glance.
CG
For every good art critic there may be ten great artists.
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For every good art critic there may be ten great artists.
CG
Kitsch is vicarious experience and faked sensations.
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Kitsch is vicarious experience and faked sensations.
CG
Not all, but too many of the best writers, composers, and artists of our time begin to be acclaimed only when they no longer have anything to say and take to performing instead of stating.
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Not all, but too many of the best writers, composers, and artists of our time begin to be acclaimed only when they no longer have anything to say and take to performing instead of stating.
CG
I don’t get into ‘becauses.’ When you come into a studio you see a number of works. My habit is to go to the one I like most. If you start to say, ‘because,’ you get into art jargon.
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I don’t get into ‘becauses.’ When you come into a studio you see a number of works. My habit is to go to the one I like most. If you start to say, ‘because,’ you get into art jargon.
CG
Once efficiency is universally accepted as a rule, it becomes an inner compulsion and weighs like a sense of sin, simply because no one can ever be efficient enough, just as no one can ever be virtuous enough.
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Once efficiency is universally accepted as a rule, it becomes an inner compulsion and weighs like a sense of sin, simply because no one can ever be efficient enough, just as no one can ever be virtuous enough.
CG
A poor life is lived by any one who doesn’t regularly take time out to stand and gaze, or sit and listen, or touch, or smell, or brood, without any further end in mind, simply for the satisfaction gotten from what is gazed at, listened to, touched, smelled, or brooded upon.
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A poor life is lived by any one who doesn’t regularly take time out to stand and gaze, or sit and listen, or touch, or smell, or brood, without any further end in mind, simply for the satisfaction gotten from what is gazed at, listened to, touched, smelled, or brooded upon.
CG
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