Eva Hesse: Spectres 1960

In 1960 Eva Hesse created an unusual group of oil paintings that, when considered in contrast to her sculptural assemblages from 1965 to 1970, foretell her desire to embody emotional states in abstract form. Contrary to existing scholarship, which suggests that these works represent a form of self-deprecation, this book seeks to consider these “spectre” paintings as manifestations of a private, haunted interiority in the context of the artist's burgeoning maturity. Through an enlightening assessment of these underappreciated works, readers will gain new insight into their pivotal role in Hesse's oeuvre.