Marlene Dumas

Marlene Dumas’s work is widely admired for its emotionally-charged portrayal of the human figure and its potent combination of drama, humor and sexuality. Born in South Africa in 1953 and based in Amsterdam, Dumas is a highly-skilled ?painter?s painter?; her work comments on the state of painting today while asking what it means to be a woman working within the predominantly male genre of Expressionist art. Dumas?s work is collected and exhibited internationally, and since the publication of the first edition of this book, her following has continued to grow. This revised edition, with a new essay by Ilaria Bonacossa and new writings by Dumas, has been expanded by 80 pages to include the artist?s most recent work.

This text features the artist Marlene Dumas commenting through her work on the state of painting today. She asks the question – what does it mean to be a woman working within the predominantly male genre of expressionist art? The artist often chooses women, children and infants as her subject matter, examining the relation between art and female beauty. The authors then analyze Dumas’s work, with subjects such as: the development of Dumas’s work in relation to the legacies of European painting; questions contemporary women artists are asked; and a look at the artist’s painting “Josephine”, reflecting on the iconic legacy of Josephine Baker. The book also features selections from Dumas’s writings, including texts on her own work, meditations on love, religion and politics, and a discussion of Goya’s painting “The Fates”. The book is part of a series of studies of important artists of the late-20th century. Each title offers a comprehensive survey of the artist’s work, providing analyses and multiple perspectives on contemporary art and its inspiration.