Greenberg's Formalist Grip on New York School Challenged
The New York School, a term coined by critic Clement Greenberg in the 1950s, has long been defined by his formalist framework. Greenberg equated painting with the purification of the medium—reducing it to surfaces, signs, and colors. Even non-pictorial movements like minimalism and anti-form, despite radically altering or violating Greenberg's original logic, adhered to a similar reduction to fundamental elements. This article examines the fragmentation of the New York School as subsequent generations moved beyond Greenberg's strictures.
Key facts
- The New York School has been discussed since the 1950s.
- Clement Greenberg is largely responsible for the term 'New York School'.
- Greenberg's formalist premises were used to describe and judge early generations of the New York School.
- Greenberg saw painting as purification of the medium, reduction to essence, surfaces, signs, and colors.
- Non-pictorial movements like minimalism and anti-form also defended reduction to fundamental elements.
- These movements radically changed or violated the original logic of formalism.
- The article is from artpress, published February 1, 1986.
- The article is titled 'L'éclatement de l'école de New York'.
Entities
Institutions
- New York School
- École de Paris
- artpress
Locations
- New York
- Paris
Sources
- artpress —