Painters Painting

Emile de Antonio's documentary of the New York art scene from 1940-1970 is a masterpiece in itself, equal to the works of art put on canvas by the artists interviewed. It is a time capsule, captured on film, of a bygone era. The effects of Jackson Pollock's work and the aftermath of the 1960's factory scene and it's effects on the world and culture of American art are discussed. Legends of the cubist/neo-dada/pop art movements like Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, Kenneth Noland, Robert Rauschenberg, Helen Frankenthaler, Jasper Johns, and Frank Stella are interviewed among many others and their art analyzed with great attention to preserving their individual flavors and not allowing the editing process to dilute their unique contributions and bleed them together. You really get a sense of what makes each individual artist tick and what inspires them to create what would later become near-priceless works of art in just under a half-century.To be honest, I didn't even know the film existed until a year or so ago and was delighted to find it on DVD here at Amazon. I ordered it and watched and was blown away. It is much different hearing the artists talk about their own work on film as opposed to reading about them. You get a more intimate portrait of the artists themselves and it is a DVD I will treasure forever. As a bonus treat, there is a very interesting PBS interview included on the DVD of Emile de Antonio filmed shortly before his death in 1989 included on the bonus section of the DVD where he discusses what went into the creation of the documentary and about his relationships with the various artists interviewed. Nearly worth the cost of the DVD by itself.Overall this is a must-buy DVD, not just for the artist or aspiring painter, but for anyone interested in the beauty of paint and canvas in general and of the New York art scene in particular.

This is something that ANYONE with any interest in Art History or even America and art should watch. It is famous and very interesting to connect the artworks to the artists. The only thing is those who are not interested in the subject might think it is dry (expected for a history documentary). I will admit I had an interest in the subject but I had to split the two hour movie into two days since it was hard to do in one sitting.

Good film. Started out disliking it, but at the end changed my mind. Art is a strange bailiwick and has issues. Images show images, words talk about images, and artists talk. They have to justify the means and the concepts of creating an image, not an easy task. good to see all the artists at work and talk about their work, even though a little pretentious at times, but without which it would not be art. The cameraman was Ed Emschwiller, who became Dean of the film School at Cal Arts. An artist in his own right, Who made many experimental art films.

The Abstract Expressionists have been cannonized and mythologized to such an extent by popular culture, that the reality of the most important American Art Movement is difficult to experience from the recent books and treatises on the subject. Painters Painting, itself an important art work by film-maker Emile de Antonio, propels us back into that existentialist time in such a complete and satisfying way, that we finish feeling like we just had dinner ourselves with all the suspects of the time at the Cedar Tavern . We discover even the notorious critic Hilton Kramer has a face. From deKooning to Warhol, the musings of the artists include Frankenthaler, Hoffman, Motherwell, Barnett Newman (my personal favorite in this film: "I believe that art theory is to me as an artist what ornithology must be for the birds"), Johns, Rauschenberg, Noland, Olitsky, Pavia, Poons, and Frank Stella. Interviews include the controversial Clement Greenberg at his best. As you can tell from the artist list, the film begins with Abstract Expressionism, winds its way through Hard-Edge and Color Field painting, before it finishes with the Grande Dame of the New York Art Scene of the 60's, Andy Warhol. This is a documentary not to be missed.

Overall I really liked the documentary. What was difficult was trying to understand why there was not one Artist/Creative of color in the loop. I know they're out there. Out of this large number, you could have included at least a glimpse of one at best... The challenge for inclusion continues...

This DVD tells us a great deal about modern (or is it post modern)painters, especially the New York school. I never would have guessedthat Rauschenberg was a handsome and somewhat charming maninstead of the hideous slob you might expect from his paintings, nor wouldyou suspect that Jasar Johns was a chronic giggler, nor that the two ofthem were gay lovers. But do I care or want to know? Not so much.I am not impressed with their painting which perhaps explains mymy less that major enthusiasm for this DVD. About a DVD on John SingerSargent or Calder instead.

I really liked hearing about the work from the artists themselves. I felt like I had the advantage of a year-long art history class only with the artists themselves explaining their point of view and efforts. I am so glad I stumbled across this.

I cannot believe that this documentary is so hard to find. I never thought I would be able to find a copy in my lifetime. One appeared about a month ago at a reasonable price and I cannot believe my luck in picking up a copy. Remarkable 116 minute documentary by Emile de Antonio. The artists that appear in this film are very relaxed and forthcoming. There is no dumbing down here but it is not esoteric either. Unique product. My copy is well worn so I will have to copy it to my computer and make a DVD or VCD copy because eventually all VHS degrades further until it dies. This is required viewing for anyone who is crazy enough to have painting on his mind every day of his life like I do.

PAINTERS PAINTING is simply a wonderful movie by top notch documentary filmmaker Emile De Antonio. I was already a huge fan of "De"'s from the moment I saw his last movie MR. HOOVER AND I, and his courage and commitment are fully in evidence in this touching, thought-provoking examination of many of the leading lights in the world of Painting in New York City from the end of WW II up to about 1970.Like many of "DE"'s movies, there is no narration. The principals speak for themselves, and are often intercut, sometimes undercut, by the opinions of critics and dealers "De" also interviews. "De" himself is often in the shots, conversing with the artists. There is very little gloss or slickness to the movie, which mixes Black and White footage with Color, and one interesting insight for me was that the way "De" filmed the paintings of Frank Stella, hung on the walls of a gallery for a big show: a moving, 'steadi-cam' style shot - prefiguring the effects achieved by "Duke Nuke 'Em" and other video games by about twenty-five years! The paintings loom up before us and then swiftly disappear behind us, on either side of the lens... Very powerful, visually.Willem de Kooning, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Barnett Newman, Andy Warhol and Helen Franenthaler are only a few of the wonderful people who speak for themselves about their work and their aims and goals for their work...I highly recommend this movie for anyone interested in Art - of *any* kind!

I love this dvd. Historic, iconic. Some of these artists are still with us but many are not. Very inspirational.i keep watching it. Robert raushenberg is prob my fav. A true piece of history for your media collection. Fab!

This is a superb film and well worth the money. Every Art nut should buy it to add to their knowledge

purchased for someone else.

Great interviews and footage of some of the greats from the New York scene 1940-1970. These insights are priceless and I particularly liked the interviews with Stella,Newman and Motherwell as well as some insightful comments by the critic Greenburg. I wish there had of been time devoted to Rothko,Clyfford Still and Franz Kline but they cover the bases pretty well. The pop art segment was less enjoyable but that is a minor quibble.Some of the interviewees are preposterous in their self importance-but that in a way makes it more fun to watch. The audio(echoey,lots of background noise) and video quality is uneven but for an early 70's art doc it is certainly watchable.If you are into Art-just buy it!