Inspirational Quotes by Clement Greenberg (American Art Critic)

Clement Greenberg (1909–94,) ocassional pseudonym K. Hardesh, was an American art critic and essayist known for his advocacy of Abstract Expressionism and formalist modern art. His writings shaped 20th-century American painting, influencing Jackson Pollock, Barnett Newman, and Mark Rothko.

Born in New York City, Greenberg studied at Syracuse University, graduating in 1930. He initially worked in translation and government service before turning to art criticism. His breakthrough essay, Avant-Garde and Kitsch (1939,) published in Partisan Review, argued that avant-garde art resisted commercialization.

Greenberg was art critic for The Nation (1942–49) and later contributed to Commentary and Artforum. His influential works include Art and Culture (1961,) essays on modernism, and Modernist Painting (1960,) defining flatness and purity in modern art. He also wrote Homemade Esthetics: Observations on Art and Taste (1999,) reflecting on aesthetic judgment. His advocacy for Color Field painting and Post-Painterly Abstraction shaped mid-century American art, making him both controversial and respected.

Florence Rubenfeld’s Clement Greenberg: A Life (1997) explores his influence and contributions to modern art criticism.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Clement Greenberg