James John Sweeney

In his introduction to the catalogue for the 1953 exhibition Younger European Painters, James John Sweeney, second director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, suggests that a widespread characteristic of the younger European painters is an interest in exploration and adventure. Sweeney famously defined “younger” as referring to an artist’s reputation, rather than chronological age; among the artists he included were some born in the 19th century. Representing a wide array of artistic expression in Europe, including works by Karel Appel, Alberto Burri, and Pierre Soulages, the catalogue documents what Sweeney noted was a newfound “variety and vitality” on the continent “asserting themselves in a way they have not for the past thirty years.” The catalogue includes black-and-white reproductions and brief biographies for each artist.… (mehr)