Barry Schwabsky's 'Words for Art' Collection Critiques Art Theory Through Diverse Commentary

Barry Schwabsky's 2013 book 'Words for Art' collects his critical writings, positioning him alongside notable critics like Clement Greenberg and Peter Schjeldahl. Published by Sternberg Press in Berlin, the 232-page volume examines diverse subjects including the 'Art since 1900' manifesto and writings by Meyer Schapiro and E.H. Gombrich. Schwabsky critiques theorists such as Thierry de Duve, Boris Groys, and Linda Nochlin while analyzing Michael Fried's interpretive methods. As coeditor of international reviews at Artforum, he engages with art world discourse but avoids systematic theorizing, except in his 'A Benjaminian view of color' essay linking Matisse, Frank Stella, Gary Hume, and Maria Morganti. The book features surprising comparisons, like connecting Adolph Menzel's constructions to Jessica Stockholder's installations and Giulio Romano's frescoes to Chris Burden's 'Sensation 1985'. Schwabsky addresses Jacques Derrida's commentary on Heidegger's discussion of van Gogh, arguing that philosophical analysis can reduce artworks to mere props. He contends that scholarly methodologies ultimately express taste, which remains fundamental in evaluating contemporary art. The collection explores how conflicting views shape consensus on art's boundaries, with Schwabsky's concise style earning admiration for its interpretative power.