Pop Art: A Critical History

A look back at what the critics were writing in the sixties about the Pop Art giants, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Oldenburg and Rosenquist and the other lessor figures Dine, Indiana, Ramos, Ruscha and Wesselmann. These articles don't fall under the category of light reading. Many of the critical comments issued by the critics of the day remind one that a critical analysis of an artist's work is best done after ten to twenty years. More interesting is the record of interviews with these break through artists. As with the modern artist of the late 19th century, these pop artist were not very popular with their predecessors who saw their careers being threatened. Like most books that I review, this book is only for the person who is serious about learning about collecting art. You must look at the past to learn about the future.

John Rapp

Here is what the others and the publisher have to say about this book.

"Steven Henry Madoff's selection of writings about Pop art, which includes both well-known and unexpected pieces, is an excellent resource. Some of the voices gathered here address the theoretical underpinnings of the art. Others convey the intentions of the artists and the flavor of the time--its snap, crackle, and pop. Together, they capture the tenor of a period that continues to influence our own."--Mark Stevens, art critic, New York Magazine

"To understand where we are in American art, we need 'Pop Art: A Critical History' to remind us of where we were. Thorough and as lively as the era it documents, Steven Henry Madoff's indispensable compendium neatly recaptures a moment that irrevocably altered American culture."--Michael Kimmelman, Chief Art Critic, New York Times

"Should be read by anyone interested in understanding the ways in which we have had to change our entire idea of what art is and what artists can do. Steven Henry Madoff has given us a clearly argued critical history of a complex moment in 20th-century American art. It is an important book."--David A. Ross, Director, Whitney Museum of American Art


Pop Art: A Critical History chronicles one of the most controversial art movements of the century. The anthology draws from a great range of sources, from the leading art magazines and art historical journals to newspapers and news magazines such as the New York Times, Life, and Newsweek. What emerges from this rich cross-section of critical and journalistic commentary is a fascinating view of the tumultuous rise of Pop art and its establishment as a major force in contemporary art. A broad selection of articles traces the emergence of the movement itself in England and America, as seen through the eyes of the working critics of the day. The focus then narrows to present in-depth writings on the four major Pop artists: Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, James Rosenquist, and Andy Warhol, along with an examination of many other artists involved in the movement. From reviews of the very first shows of many of these artists to interviews with them, to news stories about their collectors and their lifestyles, Pop Art: A Critical History represents the most complete and coherent record of Pop art yet published. The book concludes with an invaluable chronology of the major '60s exhibitions by Pop artists. Among the contributors are Lawrence Alloway, John Coplans, Donald Judd, Max Kozloff, Gerald Nordland, Peter Plagens, Barbara Rose, Robert Rosenblum, John Russell, Gene Swenson, and Sidney Tillim.

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