Florine Stettheimer: A Biography

Florine Stettheimer was a feminist, multi-media artist who painted sexually explicit, political, identity-issue-based works and documented New York City's growth as the center of cultural life, finance, and entertainment between the World Wars. She studied academic painting in Europe and was aware of early modernist styles before most American artists. Stettheimer and her sisters held an acclaimed Salon for avant-garde cultural figures, exhibited her innovative paintings in major museum exhibits and Salons, wrote poetry, designed unique furniture, and gained international fame for her sets and costumes for the avant-garde opera, 4 Saints in 3 Acts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 27 January 2022
Publisher: Hirmer Verlag

Florine Stettheimer, a pivotal figure in the 20th century art scene, emerges as a trailblazing artist whose work continues to hold immense relevance in the present day. Hailing from a feminist perspective, Stettheimer was a multi-media artist who created a body of work that delved into sexually explicit, political, and identity-related themes. Her paintings, which often depicted the vibrant energy of New York City during the interwar period, showcased her keen observation of the city's transformation into a cultural, financial, and entertainment hub.

Stettheimer's artistic journey began in Europe, where she immersed herself in the study of academic painting. During her formative years, she gained a comprehensive understanding of the earliest modernist styles, surpassing the knowledge of most American artists of her time. Upon her return to New York, she and her sisters established a renowned Salon that became a hub for prominent avant-garde cultural figures. This Salon welcomed artists, poets, dancers, writers, and others who pushed the boundaries of artistic expression.

Throughout her life, Stettheimer showcased her innovative paintings in over 46 of the most significant museum exhibits and Salons. Her artistic prowess extended beyond painting, as she also ventured into poetry, designing unique furniture, and gaining international recognition for her sets and costumes for the avant-garde opera, 4 Saints in 3 Acts.

Stettheimer's contributions to art have left an indelible mark, solidifying her status as one of the most significant and progressive artists of the 20th century. Her unwavering commitment to feminism, her exploration of taboo subjects, and her documentation of the city's growth make her work a testament to the enduring power of art to shape society and inspire generations to come.

Weight: 1782g
Dimension: 265 x 273 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783777438344