Marsden Hartley ─ American Modern

The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum in Minnesota holds 61 paintings and 54 works on paper by Marsden Hartley, all of which came as a gift from a foresighted collector, Hudson Walker, who befriended and appreciated the artist long before his reputation became secure. This catalogue is published in conjunction with the second incarnation of an exhibition that has had two lives, the first from 1997 to 2000, and the second starting in 2005. Curator Patricia McDonnell provides an insightful essay about the complexities of Hartley's life and work. The oversize format (11x12") holds 53 full-page color plates, followed by captioned b&w thumbnails, a chronology, and a bibliography. Distributed by the U. of Washington Press. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)