Bay Area Figurative Art: 1950-1965

Caroline Jones has done a stunning job, in her book 'Bay Area Figurative Art', of defining and chronicaling the counter movement, to abstract expressionism, of representational, figurative art, in California, from 1950-1965. The book was originally published as the catalogue for the 1989-1990 exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.For the student as well as the established artist, this book is indispensible as a reference in understanding the dynamics and art of David Park, Richard Diebenkorn, Elmer Bishoff and James Weeks and the others who followed. The color illustrations are excellent. It's a shame the book is not in hard-cover; with that and in a larger format, it would be ideal for the art officiando as an interesting/informative library addition. The Chronolgy and Notes sections are extensive and add to the informational whole.

Love the selection of paintings in this book. However, i remain completely perplexed about the lack of gender diversity in this and other arts publications. Joan Brown is the only woman among 10 Bay Area Figurative Arts which are featured prominently in this book. I suspect it would not require a lot of effort to find other key women figures who perhaps do not have the public profile but whose work had a major impact during this period.

I am an artist who works with watercolor crayon. An artist friend of mine recently told me about the West Coast figurative abstraction movement. I knew very little of it, so I ordered this book. I've only read a little of the text (I don't have much interest in critical essays on art).The painting reproductions profoundly impacted my work. I studied them quite a bit, and they continue to influence me. I particularly liked David Park's and Elmer Bischoff's work. I'm very happy I got this book. It helped invigorate my creative process and clarify for me where I'm wanting to move in my work.

I'm a docent at the Palm Springs Art Museum and we currently have an exhibition (Oct. 26, 2013 to Feb. 16, 2014)titled, "Richard Diebenkorn, The Berkeley Years, 1953-1966". I wanted more information about the impact of these artists in an art historical context, when discussing Diebenkorn's work. I found the information very valuable and the color plates are a great reproduction and likeness to the original art. I highly recommend this book to anyone's art book library.It's an easy read and very enlightening!

Dr. Jones worked tirelessly to complete this important work which give context to the Bay Area Figurative Movement. She helps us understand the artistic trends and attitudes that lead to the BAFM as well as the national social and political environment that lead to this genre. This book is a must for anyone interested in California's art scene. It not only explains the emergence of these works and the artist but is full of vibrant full color plates of these works.

It is not easy to find an overview on this subject nor on some of the artists involved in this movement.

This book is almost a perfect art book. The reproductions are large and of good quality. I only wish there had been more of them. There are enough to make it worthwhile, but MORE would have made it great. Text was interesting and not too dominant.

This book was exactly what I was looking for, it gave a reasonably complete review of the art of the period along with paintings of each artist.

This is an excellent book. I’m surprised at the reviewer who says there are hardly any colour reproductions. I’d say my book is mainly colour, with the odd black and white reproduction.

If you are a lover of figurative art, this book on the Bay Area group of artists will make your day. It certainly made mine.Artists include Richard Diebenkorn , David Parks, Paul Wonner, Joan Brown (who died in a freak accident installing one of her works of art) , Elmer Bischoff and others.Inspiring.

It was wonderful to learn more about why Diebenkorn et al changed styles and how the change was received. Sometimes it feels as if the only game in town was AbEx and this book clearly shows how other opinions developed and affected artistic output. A great contribution to art history of the period.

Great condition, great price, what more could you ask for.

解説が主で、図版は期待していたほどには載っていなかった…とはいえ、貴重な内容だと思うので頑張って読もうと思う。印刷の質は悪い。Diebenkorn、David Park、Elmer Bischoffらの絵が見れればいいと思ったが、他の作家の詳細も割と載っている。