The Art of Rivalry by Sebastian Smee Summary
Overview of The Art of Rivalry
Pulitzer Prize-winner Smee reveals how artistic rivalries - not solitude - birthed modern masterpieces. When Manet slashed Degas's portrait of him, it wasn't spite but transformation. What creative breakthroughs might emerge from your most challenging relationships?
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Key takeaways
The Intimate Dance of Artistic Genius
When Edgar Degas proudly presented a portrait to his friend Edouard Manet, he couldn't have anticipated what would happen next. Some time later, visiting Manet's studio, Degas discovered his painting had been slashed with a knife-right through the face of Manet's wife Suzanne. The culprit? Manet himself. Stunned, Degas took his damaged painting and left "without saying goodbye," returning a small still life Manet had given him with a terse note: "Monsieur, I am returning your Plums." This shocking act of violence between friends perfectly captures the volatile, complex relationships at the heart of artistic rivalry. Sebastian Smee's exploration of four transformative artistic relationships reveals that the most productive artistic rivalries aren't between sworn enemies but between close friends magnetically drawn to each other. These relationships feature a peculiar combination of intimacy and ambivalence, making them inherently volatile and psychologically complex. Each pairing involves different temperaments at pivotal moments in their careers-typically one artist possesses an enviable fluency while the other feels creatively stuck. Their encounters prove revelatory, opening new possibilities and ways of working that ultimately transform both artists' work.
The Struggle for Identity: Finding Your Voice Through Others
Freud and Bacon: Control Versus Chaos
Manet and Degas: Intuition Versus Analysis
Matisse and Picasso: Color Versus Form
Pollock and de Kooning: Raw Power Versus Virtuosity
The Creative Paradox: Connection and Independence
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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