Hilton Kramer is recognized as a leading art critic in America, celebrated for his insightful and bold critiques. He co-founded and co-edits The New Criterion alongside Roger Kimball, contributing significantly to the discourse on contemporary art. His work reflects a deep understanding of the art world and its cultural implications, making him a pivotal figure in shaping modern art criticism.
Giovanni Bellini is being published for the first time since 1901. Highly popular at the time of its original publication (three editions were published between 1899 and 1901), Roger Fry's monograph was instrumental in rescuing Bellini from the oblivion of a Victorian-era reputation by reinterpreting and revaluing his art for an early twentieth-century audience. Giving a succinct but definitive view of Bellini's career, Fry not only brought to bear the new "scientific" connoisseurship in his analysis of individual pictures and their chronology, but he also brought a keen interest into Bellini's innovative use of semi-transparent oil glazes, the psychological depth of his subjects, and Bellini's profound sensitivity to nature. As a painter himself, Fry had the critical advantage of studying Bellini with a sympathy deepened by his own close awareness of aesthetic problems
Hilton Kramer's collection showcases his authoritative art criticism, reflecting on the contemporary art scene through a series of essays and reviews. The work serves as a diagnostic tool, exploring the state of modernism and its enduring influence in a postmodern context. This compilation highlights Kramer's insights and the historical significance of modernism, making it a vital resource for understanding the evolution of art criticism over the past two decades.