A fascinating 1972 documentary, directed by Emile de Antonio, examines the development of abstract expressionism through Hard Edge and Color Field painting to Pop Art. Many conversations with leading artists in their studios.
Among the featured painters are Robert Rauschenberg, William de Kooning, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Helen Frankenthaler, Frank Stella, Barnett Newman, Hans Hoffman, Jules Olitski, Philip Pavia, Larry Poons, Robert Motherwell, and Kenneth Noland. We also hear from Clement Greenberg and Hilton Kramer.
This 116 minute Documentary Can also be seen on DVD through Netflix, where the quality is likely better. Unclear how long the youtube video will stay available.
Painting Perceptions was started in 2009 by Larry Groff to promote the ideas, practice and experience of painters working from observation in a modernist vein from around the world through interviews, essays, videos and community. It later evolved to include imagination-based and abstract painting as well.
I give it five *****. This really is a terrific movie.I saw it as a student and a few times since and can very much recommend. Great cast (Motherwell doing his Ye Olde Village Explainer thing, Rauschenberg not strictly sober, Barney Newman being funny, Warhol being Warhol) great story line (“American art rules. The rest of you guys suck”), great direction and editing by Dee DiAntonio. Interesting too, to consider all the artists who AREN’T in it and with 40 years hindsight maybe should have been (Alice Neel, Milton Resnick, Bob DeNiro Sr, Leland Bell, Louisa Mathiassdottir, Neil Welliver, Fairfield Porter,Clyfford Still). There was also a book which was just all the artist’s comments verbatim, which is worth getting if you ever see it in some second hand bookshop