"When I was the age of these children I could draw like Raphael. It took me many years to learn how to draw like these children."--Pablo Picasso, upon viewing an exhibition of children's drawings, as quoted by Sir Herbert Read in 1945
The idea that modern art looks like something a child can do is a long-standing clich. For some modernists, however, the connection between their work and children's art was direct and explicit. This groundbreaking and heretical book, centered on such modern masters as Klee, Kandinsky, Picasso, and Mir, presents for the first time material from the collections of child art that these artists actually possessed as they undertook some of the greatest masterworks of their careers. As the first art historian to pursue this connection in detail, Jonathan Fineberg here explores the importance of children's art to the work of key modernists from Matisse to Jackson Pollock. Fineberg's inquiry unfolds in this handsome book, which juxtaposes modern masterpieces with the drawings by children that directly influenced them. Fineberg discusses the effect of primitivism and Freudian thought on some of these artists, and demonstrates how they valued children's art for many reasons, including its naive spontaneity and celebration of the moment, imaginative use of visual language, and its universality and candor. For each of the masters who collected child art, the reasons for doing so are as varied as his or her unique style.
Fineberg has uncovered most of these major collections of child art assembled by celebrated modernists. Many examples from these collections are reproduced in this book for the first time, together with explanations as to why expressionists, cubists, futurists, and others displayed the art of children alongside their own work in exhibitions of the early twentieth century. In chapters devoted to Larionov, Kandinsky and Mnter, Klee, Picasso, Mir, Dubuffet, the Cobra artists, and artists after World War II, Fineberg examines how each artist exploited aspects of child art to formulate his or her own artistic breakthroughs.
With over 170 color plates and 140 black and white illustrations, this visually compelling book will stimulate new research among art historians and will inspire museum visitors to see some of their favorite modern masterpieces in a new way.

Fineberg, Jonathan David

Princeton University, Department of Art & Archaeology

United States, United States of America

Includes bibliographical references (p. [244]-248).

Jonathan Fineberg Here Explores The Importance Of Children's Art To The Work Of Key Modernists From Matisse To Jackson Pollock. Fineberg's Inquiry Unfolds In This Handsome Book, Which Juxtaposes Modern Masterpieces With The Drawings By Children That Directly Influenced Them. Fineberg Discusses The Effect Of Primitivism And Freudian Thought On Some Of These Artists, And Demonstrates How They Valued Children's Art For Many Reasons, Including Its Naive Spontaneity And Celebration Of The Moment, Imaginative Use Of Visual Language, Universality And Candor. For Each Of The Masters Who Collected Child Art The Reasons For Doing So Were As Varied As His Or Her Unique Style. Fineberg Himself Is Responsible For Uncovering Most Of These Major Collections Of Child Art Assembled By Numerous Celebrated Modernists. Many Examples From These Collections Are Reproduced Here For The First Time, Together With Explanations As To Why Expressionists, Cubists, Futurists And Other Artists Displayed The Art Of Children Alongside Their Own Work In Exhibitions Of The Early Twentieth Century. In Chapters Devoted To Larionov, Kandinsky And Munter, Klee, Picasso, Miro, Dubuffet, The Cobra Artists And Artists After World War Ii, Fineberg Examines How Each Artist Exploited Aspects Of Child Art Not Merely To Defy Convention But More Importantly To Formulate His Or Her Own Artistic Breakthroughs. The Postman Did It -- Mikhail Larionov And The Childhood Of Russia -- In Search Of Universality : The Vasily Kandinsky And Gabriele Münter Collection -- Reawakening The Beginnings : The Art Of Paul Klee -- Pablo Picasso : Playing With Form -- Joan Miró's Rhymes Of Childhood -- The Strategic Childhood Of Jean Dubuffet -- Cobra And The Child Inside Oneself -- Mainstreaming Childhood. Jonathan Fineberg. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [244]-248).

Focusing on artists such as Kandinsky, Klee, Picasso, Miro, and Dubuffet, this work examines how each artist exploited aspects of child art to formulate his or her own artistic breakthroughs. It juxtaposes modern masterpieces with the drawings by children that directly influenced them.

xii, 248 p. : 30 cm
Includes bibliographical references (p. [244]-248)

2023-06-28