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The Accidental Masterpiece
On The Art Of Life And Vice Versa
by Michael Kimmelman


10.0

based on 14 reviews
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New York Times art critic Michael Kimmelman explores the art in everyday life (as well as the art made by professional artists) in this book of essays.

Penguin, 256 pages
08/18/2005
$24.95

ISBN: 1594200556

Nonfiction
Art, Architecture & Photography
Essays

All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...

Christian Science Monitor Marjorie Kehe

What Kimmelman has achieved is no small feat. He has somehow managed to write a book that is a meditation on art and yet is also a pageturner. His style is easy and accessible, and his colorful anecdotes guarantee a good read even to those doubtful about their taste for art criticism.

Kirkus Reviews

Ebullient brightness permeates these pages, illuminating even the darkest comers. [15 May 2005, p. 576]

Library Journal Cheryl Ann Lajos

Kitschy and candid yet thought-provoking and uniquely awesome. [1 Jun 2005, p.126]

Los Angeles Times Susan Salter Reynolds

Many... masterpieces are contained (although they are so powerful they threaten to burst the binding) in this collection of endless inspiration. [11 Sep 2005, p. R11]

New York Observer Choire Sicha

As a travelogue, The Accidental Masterpiece rings absolutely true, and just lovely. [22 Aug 2005, p. 18]

New York Review Of Books

Kimmelman is an enchanting writer and endlessly curious critic. He brings fresh perceptions to every work of art he discusses in this book. Each time he looks, it is as though he's never looked at a work of art before.

Publishers Weekly

Intelligent but not obscure, warm but not intrusively personal. [16 May 2005, p. 49]

San Francisco Chronicle Trey Popp

A consistently enlightening, often humorous and an occasionally exhilarating adventure.

The Economist

Read every word of Mr Kimmelman for ideas to think with... You won't regret it.

The New York Times Adam Phillips

The enthusiastic appreciations in "The Accidental Masterpiece" are well worth taking time over. And in his determination not to be earnest, Mr. Kimmelman is often more serious than he sounds.

The New York Times Book Review Adrian Searle

Art can be anonymous. It can be made by accident and with no apparent effort at all. It can also entirely consume a life. These are some of the lessons of Michael Kimmelman's ''Accidental Masterpiece,'' a book that captures very well the enigmatic status of art and how we might approach it.

Washington Post Jonathon Keats

[Kimmelman's] depictions are entertaining and insightful, as artful in their own way as many of the works he discusses.

Booklist Donna Seaman

Kimmelman himself, a receptive and creative observer, turns criticism into story, thus making art out of thought. [Aug 2005, p. 1980]

Boston Globe Barbara Fisher

While the essays appear almost accidental, the art, masterpieces or not, seems hardly the creation of chance.

The average user rating for this book is 10.0 (out of 10) based on 1 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Deborah R gave it a10:
When I read this book, I felt like I was sitting in a starbucks with a good friend who knows about the inner workings of the artworld, and is letting me in on the secrets. 19th century gossip about Bonnard is still hot stuff. I loved this book!

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The Accidental Masterpiece On The Art Of Life And Vice Versa by Michael Kimmelman

The Accidental Masterpiece
On The Art Of Life And Vice Versa
by Michael Kimmelman