Robert Hughes has described Michael Kimmelman as fne most acute American art critic of his generation, who, with remarkable insight, coaxes from artists a whole range of responses to art that take us in their own words to the heart of their own work.
Mr Kimmelman's lecture, presented in a refreshingly personal and engaging style, drew on the series of interviews with artists undertaken for his book, Portraits. These artists include Francis Bacon, Balthus, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Serra, Kiki Smith, Roy Lichtenstein, Lucian Freud, Susan Rothenberg and Bruce Nauman, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Cindy Sherman, Wayne Thiebaud, Leon Golub, Brice Marden, Jacob Lawrence, Hans Haacke and Chuck Close. The interviews were conducted in museums in front of artworks selected by the artists. In talking, the artists revealed something both about the works they were looking at and about themselves - how they use museums, their sources of inspiration, their solutions to artistic problems, and the sometimes surprising connections they make between artworks.
These conversations between Mr Kimmelman and artists are the word portraits of the book.
Mr Kimmelman spoke of his aims in writing Portraits: to bring more voices to the discussion of art; to counter institutional authority; to bridge the gap between the general public and living artists; to illustrate the point that there is no single correct way to look at art; and to encourage people to open their eyes and really see the artworks they are looking at. Living artists, have a great deal to say about the art of the past as well as the art of the present.
Mr Kimmelman's unique and perceptive approach pushes forward our understanding of the practice and process of art, offers valuable insights into how artists see their own art and that of the past, and opens a window onto the nature of creativity.
Closing his lecture, to an audience enchanted by his charm and intelligence, Mr Kimmelman referred to Eugene Delacroix's belief that all artists should go to museums to steep themselves from time to time in great and beautiful works of art; and that what inspires great artists, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough The Embassy of the United States of America, the Hyatt Hotels and Rosemount Estates supported the National Portrait Gallery Anniversary Lecture.
