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Edith Halpert, the Downtown Gallery, and the Rise of American Art
A New York Times critics’ top art book of 2019, this volume tells the fascinating story of an art-world tastemaker who effectively defined American art in the 20th century
The question “What is American art?” might conjure the hyperrealism of Raphaelle Peale and William Harnett, the bold graphic style of Stuart Davis and Jacob Lawrence, or the Precisionist forms of Charles Sheeler. Little known, however, is that such notions of American art are significantly owed to a Russian Jewish immigrant named Edith Halpert. The founder of the Downtown Gallery in New York, Halpert shaped an identity for American art, declaring that its thrilling heterogeneity and democratic values were what most distinguished it from the European avant-garde.
For forty-plus years, Halpert’s gallery brought recognition and market success to now-legendary American artists—among them Arthur Dove, Marsden Hartley, and Georgia O’Keeffe, in addition to the artists mentioned above. She relentlessly championed nonwhite, female, and unknown artists and was a formative advisor in the shaping of many of the nation’s most celebrated art museums and collections, from San Francisco to Boston. Not content with those achievements, she also pioneered the appreciation and collecting of American folk art.
Richly illustrated with works that passed through her groundbreaking gallery, this book tells the extraordinary and largely overlooked story of her career and legacy. The artists Halpert launched into the American canon are household names—and this book compellingly argues that hers should be, as well.
The question “What is American art?” might conjure the hyperrealism of Raphaelle Peale and William Harnett, the bold graphic style of Stuart Davis and Jacob Lawrence, or the Precisionist forms of Charles Sheeler. Little known, however, is that such notions of American art are significantly owed to a Russian Jewish immigrant named Edith Halpert. The founder of the Downtown Gallery in New York, Halpert shaped an identity for American art, declaring that its thrilling heterogeneity and democratic values were what most distinguished it from the European avant-garde.
For forty-plus years, Halpert’s gallery brought recognition and market success to now-legendary American artists—among them Arthur Dove, Marsden Hartley, and Georgia O’Keeffe, in addition to the artists mentioned above. She relentlessly championed nonwhite, female, and unknown artists and was a formative advisor in the shaping of many of the nation’s most celebrated art museums and collections, from San Francisco to Boston. Not content with those achievements, she also pioneered the appreciation and collecting of American folk art.
Richly illustrated with works that passed through her groundbreaking gallery, this book tells the extraordinary and largely overlooked story of her career and legacy. The artists Halpert launched into the American canon are household names—and this book compellingly argues that hers should be, as well.
232 pages, Hardcover
Published November 12, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 6, 2020
I picked up a copy of this book after seeing the Jewish Museum's truly excellent Edith Halpert exhibit (for those of you in NYC, GO!), and it far exceeded my expectations. If you can't casually trek to New York to experience the exhibit and Shaykin's work in tandem and you like biographies (particularly about women who haven't gotten their due), feminism, art, and history, this book's an absolute must-read.
For those who don't know who Edith Halpert is (probably 99% of the population), she's one of the most influential American art dealers in U.S. history. She popularized the idea of American art not needing to compete with European art, revolutionized art marketing and the notion of art being for the masses and not just rich people, promoted American folk art to new heights, helped establish and curate many of this country's museums, and focused on representing a much more diverse and inclusive array of artists than any of her contemporaries. Like many influential people from marginalized backgrounds, credit for her impact was (almost) lost to time if not for work like this.
Of course, a biography is only as good as the person telling it. Rebecca Shaykin expertly curated the Jewish Museum's exhibit, and her work on this book is no exception. This isn't just a great coffee table book; it's an inspiring and important book, period.
For those who don't know who Edith Halpert is (probably 99% of the population), she's one of the most influential American art dealers in U.S. history. She popularized the idea of American art not needing to compete with European art, revolutionized art marketing and the notion of art being for the masses and not just rich people, promoted American folk art to new heights, helped establish and curate many of this country's museums, and focused on representing a much more diverse and inclusive array of artists than any of her contemporaries. Like many influential people from marginalized backgrounds, credit for her impact was (almost) lost to time if not for work like this.
Of course, a biography is only as good as the person telling it. Rebecca Shaykin expertly curated the Jewish Museum's exhibit, and her work on this book is no exception. This isn't just a great coffee table book; it's an inspiring and important book, period.
May 31, 2020
Wow. Just wow. So mad at myself for not getting to this show. Amazing catalogue. All the thumbs up.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews