"The new attitude of the critic toward the artist has been rationalized for me by a leading European art historian who is also an influential critic of current art. It is based on a theory of division of labor in making art history. The historian, he contends, knows art history and, in fact, creates it; the artist knows only how to do things. Left to himself, the artist is almost certain to do the wrong thing — to deviate from the line of art history and thus to plunge into oblivion. The critic's role is to steer him in the proper direction and advise changes in his technique and subject matter that will coordinate his efforts with the forces of development. Better still, critics should formulate historically valid projects for artists to carry out. That not all critics have the same expectations of the future of art does not, I realize, weaken the cogency of my colleague's argument. The surviving artist would be one who has been lucky enough to pick the winning critic. My own view that art should be left to artists seemed to my mentor both out-of-date and irresponsible."
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Educators from the United StatesJews from the United StatesArt criticsArt historiansConceptual artists
Original Language: English
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p. 249, "Thoughts in Off-Season"
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Harold_Rosenberg
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Harold Rosenberg
Harold Rosenberg (February 2, 1906 – July 11, 1978) was an American art critic, educator and historian. His essay on Action painting of 1952 made him an important voice in the New York art world.
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