Hyman Bloom: The Beauty of All Things

Angélica Brisk's documentary offers an intriguing overview of the life and career of abstract expressionist artist Hyman Bloom (1913–2009). Born in Latvia to an Orthodox Jewish family, Bloom grew up in Boston's West End and originally aspired to become a rabbi; but when his artistic talents began to manifest early on, Bloom found himself under the tutelage of the influential Harvard art professor Denman Ross. Bloom managed to survive the Great Depression through occasional Work Projects Administration stipends and stints as a laborer in his brothers' factory. By the 1940s, his work had achieved national acclaim, and in the 1950s he was considered an equal of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. Bloom, interviewed by Brisk two years before his death, proves to be a charming raconteur here when recalling his career highs and lows. However, he avoids talking about his art, and Brisk fills that hole with input from various art historians and a generous visual sampling of Bloom's startling output, including breathtaking works inspired by Jewish mysticism. Bloom's relative obscurity (compared with his contemporaries) can be attributed to his strenuous avoidance of publicity and his longstanding desire to stay in New England instead of moving to New York's art world. Fortunately, this intelligent film places the man and his work in the proper cultural and historical perspective. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)