Seven Critics 1970

"Seven Critics" is a 1970 lithograph by Juan Downey (1940-1993). The artwork consists of seven columns, each representing a prominent art critic of the time: Nicolas Calas, Clement Greenberg, Dorothy Miller, Lil Picard, Harold Rosenberg, William Rubin, and Willoughby Sharp. The columns are filled with handwritten questionnaires, seemingly filled out by the critics themselves, exploring their perspectives on the art world and their roles within it. This artwork, which reflects Downey's interest in conceptual art, examines the complex relationship between critics and artists, and challenges the often-rigid hierarchies within the art world.