Howard Hodgkin's statement reflects on a significant period in American art history when the New York School emerged as a prominent force in modern art. He observes that this movement, centered around New York City during the mid-20th century, briefly unified a diverse group of artists who shared similar aesthetic and philosophical approaches to their work. The phrase "nearly a coherent thing" suggests that while there was a strong sense of unity and direction among these artists, it wasn't perfect or permanent.
This quote delves into the transient nature of artistic movements and how they reflect broader cultural shifts. Hodgkin's observation highlights the fluidity and impermanence inherent in art movements; even as they seem to cohere around a central theme or set of ideas, external factors can cause them to disperse just as quickly. The New York School, which included iconic artists like Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko, was instrumental in establishing American abstract expressionism on the global stage. However, as Hodgkin notes, this unity was fleeting—a momentary phenomenon that encapsulates both the vibrant creativity of a generation and the unpredictable nature of artistic trends.
Howard Hodgkin is an acclaimed British painter whose work often explores themes of memory, place, and personal experience through richly colored abstract compositions. Known for his evocative style, Hodgkin has had a profound impact on contemporary art, particularly in Britain. His insights into the ephemerality of artistic movements like the New York School are rooted in his own extensive career as an artist and his observations about the dynamic nature of creativity across different cultural contexts.
