Natalie Adamson – författare

Painting, Politics and the Struggle for the École de Paris, 1944-1964 is the first book dedicated to the postwar or 'nouvelle' École de Paris. It challenges the customary relegation of the École de Paris to the footnotes, not by arguing for some hitherto 'hidden' merit for the art and ideas associated with this school, but by establishing how and why the École de Paris was a highly significant vehicle for artistic and political debate. The book presents a sustained historical study of how this 'school' was constituted by the paintings of a diverse group of artists, by the combative field of art criticism, and by the curatorial policies of galleries and state exhibitions. By thoroughly mining the extensive resources of the newspaper and art journal press, gallery and government archives, artists' writings and interviews with surviving artists and art critics, the book traces the artists, exhibitions, and art critical debates that made the École de Paris a zone of aesthetic and political conflict. Through setting the École de Paris into its artistic, social, and political context, Natalie Adamson demonstrates how it functioned as the defining force in French postwar art in its defence of the tradition of easel painting, as well as an international point of reference for the expansion of modernism. In doing so, she presents a wholly new perspective on the vexed relationships between painting, politics, and national identity in France during the two decades following World War II.

Material Imagination examines the interrelated concepts of matter, materialism, and materiality in postwar European art, from 1946-1972. Provides a unique perspective on European art by prioritizing material dimensions over concept or context, while also paying attention to theoretical and historical concernsExplores artists’ methods and materials in order to better understand the social and cultural environments in which their works of art were madeDemonstrates how materials can be harnessed to affect the critical interpretation of artworkBrings together exceptional illustrations and new research in eight essays by art historians and scholars

A comprehensive exploration of the evolutions, innovations, and legacies of French art from the late eighteenth-century to the presentCharting the artistic eras from the transformative upheavals of the French Revolution to the dynamic global intersections of contemporary art in the 21st century, A Companion to French Art, provides an unparalleled analysis of French art. Edited by Richard Taws and Natalie Adamson, this authoritative volume offers new ways to consider the broad history of French art through critical attention to diverse objects, mediums, and practices that have shaped French art across centuries.Shedding new light on how art has interacted with and challenged established narratives, this volume features 30 essays by leading and emerging scholars, offering insights into a wide range of topics, including revolutionary iconography, modernist movements, colonial legacies, and contemporary art's engagement with global issues. Going beyond traditional frameworks, these chapters present new methodologies and innovative interpretations that reflect the evolving questions and challenges in art history. Addressing essential themes while expanding the boundaries of how French art is understood today, A Companion to French Art: Offers comprehensive coverage of French art with a uniquely wide topical and temporal scopeExamines diverse media and materials including painting, sculpture, photography, film, ceramics, industrial design, and fashionEngages with cutting-edge methodologies such as post-colonial critique and feminist theoryDraws on in-depth archival research and previously unexplored materials for fresh insightsEssential for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in French art history, A Companion to French Art, is also an invaluable resource for academics, museum professionals, and researchers worldwide.