William Cumming: The Image of Consequence

This book is a must-read for anyone studying the development of modern art in Seattle or the Pacific Northwest. A very important figure. Kangas provides some enlightening background and interesting details about the artist's life. Beautiful paintings illustrate the book.

"For this publication, Kangas charts the evolution of William Cumming's work from socialist realism...to a socially relevant but less instrumental art that Kangas terms 'figurative formalism'...Cumming later merged his passion for populist figuration with an increasing focus on color, shape, and form." The biographical approach Kangas takes is particularly appropriate for following the evolution of this artist's career. Cumming is often seen as a member of the Northwest School for his association with other painters such as Tobey and Graves who make up this group so named because they were from the U. S. northwest. But Kangas proffers that for Cumming's deft skill and subtleties with color and shape he can be compared with Bonnard and Vuillard. This is probably stretching it--but one can see what Kangas is getting at. Surely Cumming is a better artist than to be routinely consigned to a school, though many of his subjects identify him with the west and northwest. The color plates of Cumming's work run from pages 78 to 143. These are followed by the section "Chronology, Exhibitions, and Collections." Kangas, the author for this book in conjunction with the exhibition in the Seattle Frye Museum, is a corresponding editor for Art in America and author of books and articles on art.