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A review by beesknees13
Fierce Poise: Helen Frankenthaler and 1950s New York by Alexander Nemerov
5.0
“A work is great when you are uplifted,” Helen said, “when you gain a sense of order within the work and within yourself.” pg. 47
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Fierce Poise: Helen Frankenthaler and 1950s New York: by Alexander Nemerov guides us through Helen Frankenthalers early, and most crucial developmental, years in her life and career. Nemerov takes a personal and biographical yet critical approach of introducing us to Frankenthaler's life as well as her works.
You can tell through his passionate phrases, and referring her by her last name throughout the book instead of by her last name, how much he admires and appreciates Helen's art work, powerful personality and relationships.
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I do hope that he decides to possibly write an afterward or another biography of Helen's life after she turned 40. I did appreciate that he stopped at her 40th birthday, even though biographies generally end at the end of a persons life, the ending point being at her 40th birthday when Helen felt her most confident and happy, was a nice halt and archival of a positive point in her past. As stated towards the end of Chapter 11 and the CODA chapter "I saw her many times in all sorts of settings and I always found real beauty in her being. She had a beauty in her movements and how she placed herself, whether standing, walking or sitting" The beauty was "physical, yes" but also that of a radiant soul." pg. 215 and "Helen glowed because she was happy, she glowed because she had looked frankly fortieth birthday party which took place two months before the Whitney show". pg. 216
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From the Life magazine photos of Helen posing with her work and the photographs of her dancing her paint onto the canvas, you can tell she is as radiant as her friends describe her. With the biography ending on a note when Helen, at least from her friends and family perspective, appeared to be at her happiest and most radiant, was a lovely homage and tribute to the Frankenthaler.
✨
If you are looking to learn more about Helen Frankenthaler and Post-war 1950's New York art scene, this biography is a good introduction. Highly recommend! ✨
✨
Fierce Poise: Helen Frankenthaler and 1950s New York: by Alexander Nemerov guides us through Helen Frankenthalers early, and most crucial developmental, years in her life and career. Nemerov takes a personal and biographical yet critical approach of introducing us to Frankenthaler's life as well as her works.
You can tell through his passionate phrases, and referring her by her last name throughout the book instead of by her last name, how much he admires and appreciates Helen's art work, powerful personality and relationships.
✨
I do hope that he decides to possibly write an afterward or another biography of Helen's life after she turned 40. I did appreciate that he stopped at her 40th birthday, even though biographies generally end at the end of a persons life, the ending point being at her 40th birthday when Helen felt her most confident and happy, was a nice halt and archival of a positive point in her past. As stated towards the end of Chapter 11 and the CODA chapter "I saw her many times in all sorts of settings and I always found real beauty in her being. She had a beauty in her movements and how she placed herself, whether standing, walking or sitting" The beauty was "physical, yes" but also that of a radiant soul." pg. 215 and "Helen glowed because she was happy, she glowed because she had looked frankly fortieth birthday party which took place two months before the Whitney show". pg. 216
✨
From the Life magazine photos of Helen posing with her work and the photographs of her dancing her paint onto the canvas, you can tell she is as radiant as her friends describe her. With the biography ending on a note when Helen, at least from her friends and family perspective, appeared to be at her happiest and most radiant, was a lovely homage and tribute to the Frankenthaler.
✨
If you are looking to learn more about Helen Frankenthaler and Post-war 1950's New York art scene, this biography is a good introduction. Highly recommend! ✨