The Paintings of Joan Mitchell Book

I've obsessed over this book for years as I absorbed the paintings from the exhibition that took place long ago. But now I've finally read all of the essays and these have expanded my understanding of Mitchell's life's work.

To be an abstract painter in the mid-twentieth century is easy to romanticize. Mitchell did have the means to "just paint" and that is enviable. But she also had to endure what many of the great women artists (a hated moniker) suffered during this era. She did suffer that gender-driven second class relegation, and that is not ever to be diminished, but the truth is she was a brilliant artist and it is easy to see from her exhibition history she was wildly successful during her own lifetime. Unlike say, Van Gogh, or other artists who never enjoyed a single day of their ultimate notoriety.

This book does a tremendous service to Mitchell and shows the very best pieces from her phases from the 1950s though her death in 1992. The essay by Jane Livingston is excellent and tells a compelling life story while also chronicling her oeuvres.

Both Livingston and Linda Nochlin were first hand witnesses to Mitchell and interacted with her during her career. That wasn't always pleasant. So the authority in which they write is that much more powerful. Yvette Lee's essay on the 1982-1983 Grand Vallee series is equally interesting and illuminating.

One of my favorite books in my art book collection.