Michael Fried: An Anthology Reassessing His Critique of Literalism

Michael Fried, the American art critic and historian, born in 1939, is a towering figure in 20th-century art criticism. He is best known for his 1967 essay "Art and Objecthood," in which he attacked minimalism—a movement he called "literalism"—for privileging theatrical experience over the self-absorbed object. His ideas have shaped debates that still resonate today.

The news is the publication of a new anthology bringing together a part of his critical oeuvre. According to ARTnews, this collection, spanning his entire career, reveals him in an unexpected light, less conservative than his public image suggests. Fried has often been perceived as a defender of the modernist tradition, opposing the avant-gardes of the 1960s. Such a reassessment could change how his work is taught and cited.

Fried began his career in the 1960s, close to critics like Clement Greenberg, but quickly distinguished himself. His concept of "absorption"—how figures in paintings seem unaware of the viewer—has been applied to 18th-century French painting and modern art alike. His essays on Diderot, Courbet, and Manet are academic staples.

This publication might revive interest in his ideas, especially in the current climate where the role of the viewer is a central concern in contemporary art. By showing that Fried was not simply a traditionalist, the anthology could influence younger critics and artists. No word yet on a French translation, but given Fried's importance, international distribution seems plausible.

---

Written by the ADM desk based on ARTnews. Read the original article for the full story.