Art and The Actor
by Harold Rosenberg
Published by The University of Chicago Press, 1970
Harold Rosenberg, celebrated art critic who coined the term "Action Painting," brings his penetrating intellect to bear on theatrical performance in this provocative 1970 study. Published by University of Chicago Press, this work examines the actor as a unique artistic figure—neither purely creator nor simply instrument, but a living synthesis of conception and execution.
Rosenberg's analysis draws on his deep engagement with modern art and existentialist philosophy, exploring how the actor's body and presence become the medium of dramatic expression. His writing illuminates the ontological peculiarity of theatrical art, where artwork and artist merge in performance's fleeting moment. The text speaks to ongoing debates about authenticity, interpretation, and the boundaries between art and life.
This paperback edition captures Rosenberg's characteristically vigorous prose style—direct, challenging, and philosophically ambitious. His insights resonate beyond theatre studies, touching fundamental questions about creativity, embodiment, and artistic meaning that preoccupied postwar American intellectuals.
Publishing Details: The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1970. Paperback edition.
A unique find, and we only have one.
File this Under
