Concise History of Modern Painting
Details
Type of record: Archive
Title: Concise History of Modern Painting
Classmark: BC MS 20c Herbert Read/2/1/48
Related People: Sir Herbert E. Read(Recipient); Hans Richter(Sender); Ronald Alley(Sender)
Creator(s): Read, Sir Herbert Edward (1893-1968); Richter, Hans (1888-1976); Alley, Ronald
Date(s): 1958 - 1967
Size and medium: 5 files
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/705733
Collection group(s): Herbert Read Collection
Description
This file contains correspondence and associated material for 'Concise History of Modern Painting', first published in 1959 by Thames and Hudson. Material for revisions, and correspondence associated with a later edition are included int he file as is a typescript Introduction to the Czech edition.
Correspondence chiefly relates to the design of the book and permissions for the illustrative plates, but it also contains 2 letters from Hans Richter, 1 of which seeks to correct mistakes which he believes he has noticed in the 1959 text.
In these letters Richter clarifies his relationship with Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, and Moholy-Nagy's relationship with the Constructivists more broadly. Richter suggests that Moholy-Nagy was excluded from the Constructivist group after articles of his 'revolutionary' 'Moholygramms' appeared, which the group thought directly copied Man Ray's 'Rayogramms'.
Richter also highlights what he believes to be mistakes in Read's book regarding the history of Dada, and Richter's relationship with Viking Eggeling. A letter to Read from George Adams (who also designed the book), responds to Richter's claims about Eggeling, who he knew personally.
Correspondence relating to a new edition of the book includes a letter from Ronald [Alley? Keeper of the Modern Collection at the Tate Gallery] on Tate Gallery headed notepaper, suggesting artists whose work could be included.
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