cover image Daniel E. Greene: Studios and Subways

Daniel E. Greene: Studios and Subways

Daniel E. Greene and Maureen Bloomfield. North Light, $49.99 (208p) ISBN 978-1-4403-4868-6

This stunning monograph traces the evolving style of American painter Daniel E. Greene over the course of his six-decade career. The book features over 200 reproductions of Greene’s colorful oil and pastel paintings, including his commissioned portraits and many works from his renowned New York Subway series. Art critic Bloomfield digs into Greene’s various techniques and approaches over the years, from the macabre expressionist style of his youth, as seen in the paintings Pool Room Scene with Self-Portrait (1958) and Butterfly Chasers (1960), to his transition to realist portraiture following his deployment in the Vietnam War. In addition, Greene shares the stories behind some of his favorite works, such as his portrait of an unnamed man who traveled with him to New York and then stole Greene’s car and belongings. Still lifes and solemn portraits—some shocking in their photographic crispness—of everyday people and captains of finance and industry are abundant in this collection. Greene’s paintings of empty hallways and stairwells are the most fascinating in their composition, technical execution, and clarity. This book serves as a fitting tribute to Greene’s remarkable output, and is an outstanding introduction for those unfamiliar with this accomplished artist. [em](Dec.) [/em]