Modern Art by J.-K. Huysmans

Description

Transport yourself back to the vibrant world of late 19th-century France with this captivating collection of art criticism by J.-K. Huysmans, first published in 1883 but now available in English for the first time. Known for his provocative literary works like “Against Nature,” Huysmans proves equally combative and impassioned in his aesthetic opinions.

In a time when the Impressionists faced ridicule and indifference, Huysmans fearlessly champions the likes of Degas as the epitome of French painting excellence. Through meticulous analysis, he celebrates the genius of renowned artists such as Caillebotte, Gauguin, Cassatt, Manet, Morisot, Redon, and Moreau, whose talents have since been vindicated by the passage of time.

Alternating between critiques of independent artists and scathing rebukes of the Official Salon’s conventional and academically dry offerings, Huysmans injects his reviews with gusto and invective. “Modern Art” features 200 evocative black and white illustrations, accompanied by insightful notes and a comprehensive glossary of artists, offering readers a rich immersion into the vibrant world of 19th-century French art.