Peter Plagens' novel 'The Art Critic' satirizes art world through serialized artnet publication

Peter Plagens published his second novel 'The Art Critic' in 24 installments on artnet starting in August 2008. The book follows art critic Arthur and sculptor Tom Mannheim competing for Helen Issacson, assistant to an art-book publisher. Plagens populates the story with characters resembling real art figures: Tony Givens (director of Greenwich Village's Atelier Academy) evokes Graham Nickson; Jonathan Hirsch (critic for The Financial Journal) suggests Hilton Kramer and Eric Gibson; Helen's father Mel combines traits of Peter Brant, Si Newhouse, and Charles Cowles. Mannheim's abstract constructivist sculpture recalls Mark di Suvero, Clement Meadmore, and Michael Steiner, while his struggle to incorporate video monitors nods to Bruce Nauman. Plagens, both a critic and artist exhibiting at Nancy Hoffman, portrays Arthur's weekly rounds capturing Chelsea gallery fashions, museum brochure jargon, Manhattan openings, and artists' colonies. The novel contrasts with the reviewer's experience at Time magazine, noting differences in editorial support and audience perception between Time and Newsweek readers. Plagens' gender perspective shapes character dynamics, with female characters depicted as sexual predators while male leads are romantics.