Irrational Judgments, Kirsten Swenson

Eva Hesse, Sol LeWitt, and 1960s New York

Hardcover

A compelling study of artistic friendship and innovation in 1960s New York

Irrational Judgments: Eva Hesse, Sol LeWitt, and 1960s New York by Kirsten Swenson is a richly illustrated and deeply researched exploration of the creative dialogue between two of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Taking its title from LeWitt’s famous statement, “Irrational judgments lead to new experience,” the book traces the intertwined careers of Hesse and LeWitt, revealing how their friendship shaped the development of minimal, post-minimal, and conceptual art during a politically and socially turbulent era.

Swenson draws on previously unpublished documents, interviews, and photographs to offer fresh insights into the artists’ experimental practices and their responses to the cultural climate of 1960s New York—including the Vietnam War, gender politics, and the shifting role of the artist in society.

Key Features:

• Genre: Art history, biography, cultural studies
• Themes: Artistic collaboration, minimalism, conceptual art, gender and politics in art
• Style: Scholarly yet accessible, richly illustrated

This hardcover edition includes 33 color and 46 black-and-white illustrations, making it a visually engaging resource for art historians, students, and collectors alike.

About the Author:

Kirsten Swenson is an assistant professor of art history at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Her work focuses on modern and contemporary art, with particular attention to urbanism and public art. In Irrational Judgments, she offers a nuanced and authoritative account of Hesse and LeWitt’s artistic evolution and mutual influence.

Reception:

• Publishers Weekly praised the book as “a stellar account” that deepens understanding of both artists.
• Elisabeth Sussman of the Whitney Museum of American Art called it “a nuanced argument of the period and the artists.”
• Goodreads rating: 4.1/5 based on reader reviews

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Product Information:

Title: Irrational Judgments: Eva Hesse, Sol LeWitt, and 1960s New York
Author: Kirsten Swenson
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300211566
Language: English
Binding: Hardcover with dust jacket
Pages: 190
Illustrations: yes, in color and black-and-white
Publication Date: November 27, 2015
Dimensions: 23,5 x 18,6 x 2,1 cm
Weight: Approx. 820 grams
Condition: Very good; dust jacket shows light signs of use and has a small tear (1.5 cm) at the bottom rear—non-intrusive and easily repairable with tape
Category: Art History, Biography, Cultural Studies

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