Alice Neel

First Edition (2000) , not directly stated in accordance with Abrams' customary practice at the time of publication; First Printing presumed (no number line and no statement of subsequent printings). Very Good in a Very Good DJ: The Book shows a former owner's name printed in small letters in ink at the top edge at the text block; the binding leans slightly, but remains secure; the text is clean. Free of creased or dog-eared pages in the text. Free of any underlining, hi-lighting or marginalia or marks in the text. A handsome copy, structurally sound and tightly bound, showing the noted imperfections. Bright and Clean. Corners sharp. The DJ shows a 1/4" tear and a tiny snag at the bottom edge of the front panel; the price has been clipped. Remains attractive. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 4to (12.25 x 9 x 1 inches) . 224 illustrations, including 86 color plates. Bibliography. Chronology. Index. Exhibition History. Edited by Ann Temkin. Language: English. Weight: 47.6 ounces. Hardback with DJ. A centennial celebration of the work of American portraitist Alice Neel accompanies a retrospective exhibition of her remarkable works, from deeply personal paintings of family and friends to her stunning portraits of key figures in the New York art world, including Andy Warhol, Frank O'Hara, and Robert Smithson. This is a very tasteful introduction to Alice Neel's work. The illustrations are excellent, so good that one can see Alice Neel's technique and even her brushwork is sometimes discernible. There are some impressive-looking essays included too: these are all at the front of the book, so one can just view the pictures, if one wishes, without textual distraction. Whether Alice ever acknowledged an influence I don't know, but her work is very like the German art of 'New Objectivity', from the Weimar period. Her brushwork is looser, but they share the same clear-eyed gaze and the ugly-beautiful aesthetic. The book only includes one example of Alice Neel's 'pregnant nudes', which is a major theme in her work and an original contribution to the depiction of the female nude, so this book cannot be said to be the last word on her oeuvre. But it is a very attractive introduction and does include many of her key portraits, such as the one of Andy Warhol, her late nude self-portrait and the astonishing portrait of Joe Gould. ; 4to 11" - 13" tall; 198 pages.