![]() In an interview given shortly after Newman’s death in 1970 he said, “The only way I knew Barney was I think Barney went to more parties than I did…. Andy was to fall somewhat irreverently under Barney’s spell. Even today young artists speak of “Barney” and view him as a sort of universal uncle. Apart from Andy Warhol, I can think of no other major artist of the twentieth century (and of very few of the more distant past) who was known universally by his nickname. A man of dignified bearing, he was invariably referred to as Barney, even by those who did not know him. Newman was also the most erudite of the Abstract Expressionists. The exhibition which opened in Philadelphia last March and was on view at Tate Modern in London until early January included some seventy paintings, just over half his works on canvas, and almost all his graphic work (even more restricted in terms of number). ![]() Newman was in many respects the most radical of the Abstract Expressionists and certainly the least productive. ![]() Newman was probably pleased to get the recognition but he would also have been pleased about the doubt throughout his career he refused to be categorized. ![]() Alfred Barr was until the last moment doubtful about including him in the exhibition entitled “The New American Painting” launched by MOMA in 1958, 1 because he didn’t appear to fit into it comfortably. Although Barnett Newman, through his writings, did as much as any other single figure to create the climate in which Abstract Expressionism was to be born and subsequently to flourish, he was the least expressionistic of the Abstract Expressionists. ![]()
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