Agnes Martin: Paintings, Writings, Remembrances

If I asked my mind to imagine the most wonderful book on the life and work of the late abstract expressionist Agnes Martin, it would fall short of this work that Arne Glimcher, her art dealer and friend, has put together with Phaidon Press. It contains an unprecedented retrospective sweep of the highest quality images of her drawings, paintings, and prints. The scale, subtlety of color, and texture of her work is difficult to capture in photography, but you will feel the power of these images that come from another world. Not only did Agnes Martin paint some of the most beautiful and sublimely meditative works of art of the last half of the 20th Century, but she also wrote profoundly on humility, transcendence, and the way of the artist. Some of these writings are included in this book. Several perfect full-color facsimiles, indeed replicas, of her essays and letters are generously inserted into the binding as if you came across them at her desk. They take my breath away. You're flipping through some paintings from the Nineties period and out pops a note on perception or a letter to The Whitney on inspiration. There is an exact replica of a concise autobiographical sketch of the artist in her own hand. And then there are the photographs of her life in New Mexico, the artist on her tractor, stills from her film Gabriel, even a map to her old studio in Cuba, NM. This book is a synthesis of her work, her life, and the powerful thoughts of an artist who emptied her mind to make space for the inspirations that she recorded as her art. The author truly paints a picture of the life of this great spirit from early in her career to the end of her long life with personal accounts, writings, and images. This is a remarkable book about an artist that really should change the way we make books about artists.

This book in its entirety is perfection.It merits a hand-written thank you note to Arne Glimcher. What a labor of love this work must have been.The copy I received was in immaculate condition and impeccably packed. Truly. I thank you dearly, Seller @ fastship-customerfocus. You treated this book with such care. 🙏🏼❤️

This is book publishing perfection! This book is both a scholastic and personal historical document of the life of one very unique artist, Agnes Martin by the one person who has followed her work and life through its many changes and transformations, location to location. Martin's personal notes on aged line paper are inserted throughout the book printed exactly as they are in her original writing. The printing quality throughout the entire book is perfection with every possible attention to detail that honors this artist's life and work. Arne Glimcher is the only person who could have done such a masterpiece of art book presentation.

It's absolutely invaluable to read Agnes Martins' comments onwhat art making meant to her. The hand written notes insertedby Glimcher in his remembrances of Martin are very touchingand reveal the depth with which Martin went within to makesuch wondrous works of art. It is a rare thing to witness, throughGlimcher's writings, a true and long term friendship betweenartist and dealer.From a product point of view, the book is extremely well designed,printed, and the images of the works of art are of very high quality.

The minute I opened this book, I was engaged with it. Agnes Martin is a fascinating woman and artist. What a treat it is to turn the pages of this book and come upon a copy of handwritten personal correspondence bound into the book. There are many of these fascinating letters bound into the pages! Truly wonderful! Her philosophy and vision are wonderful and her artwork more beautifully printed than in any other volume on her work I've seen before. This book is worth every cent.

It's a great book. Beautifully designed. With various inside booklets with Agnes writings. It gives you a look at her work and an insight in her live. The bad thing was that it arrived a little bid damaged inside, like if it has been folded, and the Amazon policies for changing it are a little bit difficult for countries like Peru.

This book, including the insertion of reproductions of her handwritten notes in actual size, is a beautiful tribute to the work, philosophy, and life of Agnes Martin.

This is a beautiful creation...it is a very special volume of a CANADIAN artist with a CANADIAN sensibility. If there is somebody very special in your life get this book for them. They don't have to be an art lover, they don't have to love books...they just need to be breathing. Martin's art is all about breathing.