Rockwell Kent : the mythic and the modern /
Jake Milgram Wien
- 1st ed.
- New York : Hudson Hills Press in association with the Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME., 2005
- 188 p. : illus. ; 29 cm
Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-174) and index.
"The evolution of Kent's artistry and his engagement with modern art and ideas are the subjects of this landmark book, which accompanies an exhibition marking the centenary of his arrival on Maine's Monhegan Island in June 1905. Organized by the Portland Museum of Art, Maine, the exhibition reunites choice works not publicly seen in several generations, including many from the Pushkin and Hermitage museums in Russia. Kent advanced his modernist vision during sojourns in Maine, Newfoundland, Alaska, Tierra del Fuego, and Greenland, and he crossed over into popular culture through illustrations for such literary classics as Candide, Canterbury Tales, Moby Dick, and Paul Bunyan.". "This extensively researched volume offers fresh insights into the spiritual and intellectual influences guiding Kent, including his early study with Arthur Wesley Dow, a key proponent of innovative theories of design and composition. It disentangles the strands of Kent's diverse stylistic achievements and exposes his double identity as Jazz Age humorist. As "Hogarth, Jr." he contributed sparkling ink drawings of modern life that captivated readers of Harper's Weekly, the New York Tribune, and Vanity Fair. Rounding out this wide-ranging study is a full list of Kent's solo exhibitions and a detailed chronology of his life.