ACT Reading Practice Test 15

HUMANITIES: Colorful Reflections on Fairfield Porter

My first encounter with the international artist and art critic Fairfield Porter was actually through the poetry of his wife, Anne (Channing) Porter. While both grew to become quite celebrated in their crafts,

Line 5 Fairfield’s story is unique. Born into an affluent, artistic family in 1907, the boy who was to one day become a renowned artist and respected art critic showed a comparative lack of artistic ability when seen next to his siblings. While

10 his older brother Eliot took to photography, Fairfield Porter, despite being remarkably intelligent, appeared to be lacking any natural artistic talents. It seemed that, although a member of a family full of artists, his true skill lay in the critiquing of others’ artistry. This

15 was evidenced in his second year at Harvard by Fair- field’s decision to pursue art history as his major field of study. After studying at Harvard under Arthur Pope and then traveling briefly through Europe, Fairfield came back to the United States to further his education at

20 the Art Students League in New York City. There he became acquainted with the famed photographer Alfred Stieglitz—the work of whom is said to have positively influenced Fairfield’s paintings to some degree. Between the years 1931 and 1932, Fairfield spent

25 the majority of his time in Italy learning to appreciate and critique the works of the great Renaissance painters. His training came from both direct study under world-famous art historian Bernard Berenson, and from countless hours spent in museums and

30 galleries observing the greatest pieces of Italian art. Following his marriage to Anne upon his return from Italy, Fairfield spent the better part of the next two decades developing his skills as a painter while caring for his autistic son. During this period his meetings with

35 the French Intimist painter Willem De Kooning would prove to have a profound effect on his later works. Porter was the first to publicly acclaim the work of Kooning. In fact, what made Porter so famous was his knack

40 for responding directly to an artist’s work. He found fault with the common “talk based” criticism that spoke to art only in reference to its past or to some vague theoretical framework; such criticism attempted to shape the future of art and was far too biased for Porter.

45 His time as an art critic for such publications as Art News and The Nation ended, however, in 1961 when he decided to pursue a full-time painting career. The other side of his fame, his uncommon approach to painting, is just as important to the

50 understanding of Fairfield Porter’s contributions to the world of art. His personal philosophy comes from a blending of two views; art should be personal, emotional, and representative of its subject, while at the same time be boldly colorful, expressive, and generally

55 abstract. Drawing on his vast knowledge of art history, especially the styles of French Intimism, Porter fused these two feelings to create a powerful, emotive collection of paintings about families, individuals, and the home, as well as moving nature scenes such as

60 The Door to the Woods (1971) and Maine – Toward the Harbor (1967). When he died in 1975, on a morning walk along the ocean, he left the world as one of the most respected art critics in the past century. On top of that, his work

65 as a painter is still viewed within the art community as amazingly distinctive and especially representative of his life. It is sad to say that now, however, some thirty years after his death, he is still virtually unknown outside of art circles. This remarkably insightful, articulate,

70 creative individual needs to be discovered by the common man and revered for his continuing influence on the artists of today. The words of this intellectual were some of the best and most honest critiques of art ever spoken.