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Rating: 
Summary: Painter of Light
Review: "Rosenberg's family was important to him, but art was his life. He taught for over 40 years just so he could have summers off to paint while earning enough money to support his family." While many artists moved to New York or Paris, Samuel Rosenberg (1896-1972) stayed in Pittsburgh where he traced the transitions of his neighborhood through his life. Some of Samuel Rosenberg's paintings seem to be more of an expression of the inner world. In "Becoming" I see the creative dance of a soul and is definitely my favorite painting in this book. This book features eighty-two color reproductions and fifty black-and-white illustrations. "Fleeting Substance" is also rather stunning. When viewing art from 1941 and 1942, you can hardly believe all the art is created by the same artist. Although, it would be true to say that Rosenberg believed that paintings could reveal both a physical and spiritual reality. So, it seems that as he aged, he became very aware of the spiritual side of life. His work is divided into four periods although the common thread is Rosenberg's emphasis on light. Which I think is especially interesting in "Becoming." The more you look at the painting, the more souls appear to be twirling and radiating light. He used sequential layers of translucent color and transparent glazes in order to achieve a shimmering effect. They do remind me of light filtering through stained glass windows. Barbara L. Jones is the curator of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. In this book, she explores Rosenberg's art, his philosophy and dedication to teachings. She also includes quotes from critics of his day in order to give a sense of Rosenberg's critical reception. Jones provides a complete catalog of paintings and preparatory sketches. She also explains how Rosenberg's paintings became increasingly abstract in the last twenty years of his life. This book is really a fascinating study and I'm sure you will find a few paintings that will inspire you. ~TheRebeccaReview.com
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