Townsend Ludington, University of North Carolina
"My Dear Stieglitz is an important contribution to Hartley/Stieglitz scholarship."


Jonathan Weinberg, Getty Research Institute
"My Dear Stieglitz charts a short, but key period in the careers of two extraordinary figures in American modernism."


Book Description
A collection of previously unpublished correspondence between American artist Marsden Hartley and avant-garde impresario and photographer Alfred Stieglitz, My Dear Stieglitz chronicles a painter's three-year-plus European pilgrimage before--and during the inception of--World War I. Beginning with Hartley's 1912 arrival in Paris, his letters to Stieglitz from this pioneering capital of modern art and world culture provide sweeping accounts of Gertrude Stein's salons, gossip of Montparnasse cafés filled with poets, writers, artists, and composers, and commentary on paintings by Picasso, Cézanne, and Matisse. Searching for social acceptance as well as artistic growth and inspiration, Hartley reports to Stieglitz on leading galleries such as Ambroise Vollard, Bernheim-Jeune, and Paul Durand-Ruel, while finding solace in art at the Musée du Louvre. From Germany in early 1913, Hartley writes vibrant letters about the Expressionist artists in Munich, Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc, and their group Der Blaue Reiter. Hartley's missives quickly become up-to-the-minute exposés on avant-garde trends in Germany with childlike lamentations over the bustling, modern city of Berlin. His glory in Germany turns solemn with the onset of World War I and the death of his close friend, a German officer named Karl von Freyburg--a loss vividly depicted in Hartley’s renowned war motif paintings from this period. Steiglitz's correspondence from New York gives an American point of view of a war in Europe and chronicles exhibitions at "291," his own gallery for modern art. Although Stieglitz's letters are less personal than Hartley's, he shows subtle signs of resentment toward the famous 1913 Armory Show, which usurped his reign over modernism in America. Closing in late 1915 with Hartley's return to an America filled with anti-German sentiment and a New York seasoned by the influx of modern art, My Dear Stieglitz provides an intimate perspective on modern art and the human condition during the tempestuous years of the early twentieth century.


About the Author
JAMES TIMOTHY VOORHIES works in the Department of European Painting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and has taught art history at the San Francisco Art Institute. He lives in New York City.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A collection of previously unpublished correspondence between American artist Marsden Hartley and avant-garde impresario, editor, and photographer Alfred Stieglitz, My Dear Stieglitz chronicles Hartley's three-year-plus European pilgrimage before--and during the inception of--World War I. Beginning with Hartley's 1912 arrival in Paris, his letters to Stieglitz provide sweeping accounts of Gertrude Stein's salons, gossip from bohemian caf￯﾿ﾽs of Montparnasse, and commentary on paintings by Picasso, C￯﾿ﾽzanne, and Matisse. He records encounters with Robert Delaunay, Paul Fort, Claude Debussy, Elie Nadelman, Edward Steichen, and Charles Demuth, as well as other commanding figures as he navigates the thriving capital of modern art and world culture during the rise of Cubism and Futurism. Searching for artistic growth and inspiration, Hartley reports, with opinionated insight, on the European world of art in the age of dealers and gallery owners such as Ambroise Vollard, the Bernheim-Jeunes, and the Durand-Ruels.

From Germany in early 1913, Hartley writes vibrant letters about the Expressionist artists in Munich, Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc, and their group Der Blaue Reiter. Hartley's missives are up-to-the-minute expos￯﾿ﾽs on avant-garde trends in Germany and childlike lamentations on life in the bustling, modern city of Berlin. His glory in Germany turns solemn with the onset of World War I and the death in combat of his close friend, a German officer named Karl von Freyburg--a loss vividly depicted in Hartley's renowned war motif paintings.

Stieglitz's correspondence from New York gives an American point of view of the European art climate while chronicling the effect of the 1913 Armory Show on modernism in America. Stieglitz sends Hartley money for expenses, summarizes the exhibitions held at 291, his gallery for modern art and photography, and comments upon the war raging in Europe.

Closing in late 1915 with Hartley's return to an America filled with anti-German sentiment and to a New York City seasoned by the influx of modern art, My Dear Stieglitz provides an intimate perspective on modern art and the human condition during the tempestuous years of the early twentieth century.

About the Author

JAMES TIMOTHY VOORHIES works in the Department of European Paintings at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has previously taught art history at the San Francisco Art Institute and now lives in New York City.

SYNOPSIS

The letters American artist Hartley wrote home to editor and photographer Stieglitz during his trip to Europe have often been cited in histories of art, but have not been published in total as a group until now. Letters from Stieglitz to Hartley are also included. Voorhies (European painting, Metropolitan Museum of Art) provides notes explaining contemporary and personal allusions, biographical sketches, a bibliography, and an index. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

Jonathan Weinberg - Getty Research Institute

My Dear Stieglitz charts a short, but key period in the careers of two extraordinary figures in American modernism. In these letters Marsden Hartley shares with his dealer and fellow artist, Alfred Stieglitz, intimate details about his life and the origins of his art. We also sense Stieglitz's crucial role in supporting Hartley's career. Voorhies has done a commendable job of annotating and introducing the correspondence, producing a book that is essential to understanding the history of the first American avant-garde.

Library Journal