Agnes Martin: On Beauty

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An exploration of Martin's intuitive, idiosyncratic approach to beauty, as evinced through her written meditations and reproductions of several key paintings

"When I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life," wrote Agnes Martin in 1989. Edited by Milly Glimcher, this handsomely produced volume collects writings by the artist centered around the theme of beauty, as well as a range of subjects related to her life and work, from the workings of nature and politics to the inspiration to be found in solitude and silence. Poetic and reflective, these texts range from compact insights, as with "Underside of the Leaf" and "Awareness of Perfection," to longer meditations, such as "The Current of the River of Life Moves Us" and "The Untroubled Mind." On Beauty also includes reproductions of paintings such as Blessings (2000) and Tranquillity (2001), among others, while the front and back covers are debossed with reproductions of Affection (2001) and Little Children Playing with Love (2001). By providing a window into the thoughts and feelings that moved her, this title is the perfect companion for anyone who admires Martin's intuitive approach to art.
Canadian American artist Agnes Martin (1912-2004) was one of the most influential painters of her generation and left an enduring mark on the history of modern and contemporary art. Characterized by austere lines and grids superimposed upon grounds of muted color, her paintings elegantly negotiate the confines of structure, space, draftsmanship and the metaphysical. Their underlying ideologies can be found in the writings she composed over the course of her career.