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George Gershwin, born Jacob Gershwin, is an American composer and pianist.
George's parents emigrated from Russia to the United States in 1891, and he was about 12 years old at the piano, becoming virtually self-taught. Gershwin published his first song in 1916, but it was Swanee, written by a 20-year-old Gershwin in 1918, that made him famous. The income he received for it allowed Gershwin to concentrate on musical theater. In the 1920s, however, George, along with his older brother Ira, were major songwriters and hit songwriters on Broadway. The lyrics for all of Gershwin's films were written by Ira Gershwin, as were the lyrics for most of his musicals, although early in his career Gershwin worked with other lyric writers, including Irving Caesar and Buddy De Silva.
The Gershwin brothers' first Broadway hit was the song Lady Be Good in 1924. In his songs, Broadway shows, and movie scores, composer George Gershwin achieved unprecedented success with his masterful mastery of jazz, classical, and popular music styles. These include "Rhapsody in Blue" in 1924, "Concerto in F" in 1925, "An American in Paris" in 1928, and "Second Rhapsody" in 1931. Between 1919 and 1935. Gershwin wrote music for 31 musicals, one of which - Of Thee I Sing - in 1932 became the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Dramaturgy. Gershwin's songs have also been used in numerous films and award-winning musicals over the years.
The opera Porgy and Bess, co-written with Dubose, Dorothy Hayward, and Ira Gershwin, was the Gershwin brothers' most ambitious project, combining memorable songs with drama. It was first performed in Boston in 1935 and was made into a movie in 1959.
In 1937, at the age of only 39, the brilliant composer died of a brain tumor. George Gershwin was at the height of his career, leaving a significant and lasting mark on the world of classical music. Today, his orchestral works are performed by most of the world's prestigious symphony orchestras. Ira Gershwin, who was two years older, lived 46 years after George's death.
François-Xavier Lalanne was a French painter and sculptor. He studied sculpture, drawing and painting at the Académie Julian. Since the 1960s he has worked as a couple with his wife Claude Lalanne.
Joan Mitchell was an American painter, celebrated for her pivotal role in the Abstract Expressionist movement. Born in Chicago in 1925, Mitchell's work transcends the traditional boundaries of art, blending intense emotion with a deeply personal use of color and gesture. Her canvases are vast arenas where light, color, and texture merge to evoke landscapes, memories, and emotions. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Mitchell's art was not just about the act of painting but about capturing the essence of her experiences and emotions, making her a unique voice in 20th-century art.
Mitchell's paintings, characterized by their vibrant colors and dynamic brushstrokes, have been exhibited in some of the world's most prestigious museums and galleries. Notable works like "Hudson River Day Line" and "Bracket" found homes in institutions such as the Denver Art Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), respectively. These pieces exemplify Mitchell's ability to convey the complexity of nature and emotion, bridging the gap between abstract expressionism and the lyrical landscapes that inspired her.
Despite her critical acclaim, Mitchell's work was initially overshadowed by her male peers, selling for a fraction of their value. However, the 21st century has seen a significant reassessment of her contributions, with her paintings now commanding millions at auction. This shift is part of a broader reevaluation of women and minority artists in the art historical canon, reflecting changing perspectives on gender and creativity. Collectors and experts in art and antiques now recognize Joan Mitchell as a titan of post-war American painting, whose works continue to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.
For those intrigued by the legacy of Joan Mitchell and the dynamic world of abstract expressionism, we invite you to sign up for updates. Our subscription service will keep you informed about new product sales and auction events related to Joan Mitchell's art, offering exclusive insights into one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
Frederick Childe Hassam was an American Impressionist painter, celebrated for his urban and coastal scenes. Born on October 17, 1859, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Hassam was a pivotal figure in introducing French Impressionism to the American art scene. His prolific output includes over 3,000 works ranging from oils and watercolors to etchings and lithographs.
Hassam's technique was characterized by the use of light and vibrant colors, often focusing on bustling cityscapes and tranquil New England coastlines. He spent significant periods in Europe, particularly Paris, where he absorbed elements of the avant-garde styles of the time. Despite this, he often emphasized a connection to English landscape traditions over French ones.
Some of his most acclaimed works capture the essence of places like the Isles of Shoals in Maine and East Hampton in Long Island, where he later made his summer home. These settings often featured in his paintings, reflecting the picturesque and serene landscapes that contrasted with his urban subjects.
Hassam's legacy includes his influence on American collectors and institutions, helping to cultivate a taste for Impressionism in the United States. His works are held in major museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art, ensuring his continued recognition as a key figure in American art history.
For those interested in exploring more about Hassam's life and works, signing up for updates on exhibitions and sales can provide valuable insights into his contributions to Impressionism. Subscribe for updates on new collections and auction events related to Frederick Childe Hassam's artworks.
Man Ray, born Emmanuel Radnitzky, was an American visual artist who played a significant role in the Dada and Surrealist movements. His pioneering efforts in photography, alongside his work in painting and sculpture, have cemented his place as a major figure in modern art. Known for his innovative techniques and the ability to convey complex ideas through simple, striking visuals, Man Ray's contribution to the art world is profound.
Throughout his career, Man Ray was celebrated for his avant-garde approach and his ability to transcend traditional boundaries between different artistic mediums. His photography, characterized by experimental techniques such as solarization and rayographs (cameraless photographs), challenged conventional perceptions of photography as merely a means of representation. These artistic innovations made him a central figure in both Parisian and American art circles.
Man Ray's works are housed in some of the world's most prestigious museums and galleries, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. His pieces, such as "Le Violon d'Ingres" and "Noire et Blanche," are iconic images that continue to influence artists today. His ability to blend the abstract with the realistic, and the humorous with the serious, has left a lasting legacy in the world of art.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, the work of Man Ray offers a glimpse into the revolutionary changes that shaped the visual arts in the 20th century. His unique perspective and pioneering techniques continue to inspire and challenge those interested in the boundaries of creativity and expression.
If you're passionate about the avant-garde, or simply wish to explore the fascinating world of Man Ray further, sign up for our updates. You'll receive alerts on new product sales and auction events related to Man Ray, ensuring you never miss an opportunity to engage with the legacy of this extraordinary artist.
Dorothea Margaret Tanning was an American surrealist painter, printmaker, sculptor, writer and poet.
In 1935 Dorothea came to New York and worked as an advertising artist until she was inspired by the paintings of the famous Surrealists at an exhibition. She began to paint and exhibit and made numerous acquaintances among contemporary artists. In 1946 she married the artist Max Ernst, and this marriage lasted 30 years. They lived in Paris for a long time, and after his death in 1976, she returned to New York.
As an artist, Dorothea Tanning was self-taught, and her style was constantly changing. At first close to surrealism, by the late 1960s her paintings had become almost entirely abstract. Among her artistic accomplishments are paintings, prints, sculpture, stage design, costume and set designs for ballets, and her work has been exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Tate Modern, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
In the late 1980s, Tanning began writing poetry, and her work has subsequently been published in various publications. Her first collection of poems, A Table of Content, was published in 2004. The multifaceted and versatile artist died in New York City at the age of 101.
Theo van Doesburg, real name Christian Emil Marie Küpper, is a Dutch painter, architect and sculptor, art theorist, co-founder of the Style Group and of Neoplasticism.
Theo van Doesburg co-founded with Piet Mondrian the De Stijl abstract art movement. The basis of van Doesburg's views was the attempt to reduce all forms of objective harmony in a work of art to certain geometric elements. These new principles soon had a significant influence on the development of architecture, literature, graphics and music.
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Zhang Xiaogang (Chinese: 张晓刚, pinyin Zhāng Xiǎogāng) is a famous contemporary Chinese surrealist painter and sculptor. He gained his literary youth during the Cultural Revolution in China, which has had a profound influence on his work. Among his best-known works are his series of paintings entitled Ancestry, Amnesia and Memory, and Tiananmen Square. Since 1997 his works have been exhibited in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Prague and other cities.
Pierre Soulages was a French painter, printmaker, and sculptor. In 2014, François Hollande described him as "the world's greatest living artist."
Soulages is known as "the painter of black," owing to his interest in the colour "both as a colour and a non-colour. When light is reflected on black, it transforms and transmutes it. It opens a mental field all its own." He saw light as a work material; striations of the black surface of his paintings enable him to reflect light, allowing the black to come out of darkness and into brightness, thus becoming a luminous colour.
Marc Chagall (Russian: Марк Заха́рович Шага́л), born Moishe Shagal in 1887 near Vitebsk, Belarus (then part of the Russian Empire), was a Belarusian and French artist celebrated for his pivotal role in the avant-garde movement and his unique integration of Eastern European Jewish culture into modern art. His contributions spanned several artistic formats including painting, stained glass, stage sets, ceramics, tapestries, and fine art prints. Chagall's early modernist tendencies were enriched by his experiences across Saint Petersburg, Paris, and Berlin before World War I, leading to a distinctive style that melded Cubism, Symbolism, and Fauvism with his Jewish heritage.
Chagall's work is recognized for its emotional depth, often exploring themes of love, memory, and Jewish folklore through vibrant colors and dreamlike imagery. Notably, art critic Robert Hughes described him as "the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century," a sentiment echoed by art historian Michael J. Lewis who regarded Chagall as a significant figure within European modernism and as the world's preeminent Jewish artist of his time.
Among Chagall's famed contributions are his stained-glass windows for the cathedrals of Reims and Metz, the UN, and the Jerusalem Windows in Israel. His monumental paintings include parts of the ceiling of the Paris Opéra and works that explore biblical themes, a hallmark of his oeuvre that underscores his enduring engagement with spiritual and religious motifs.
For art collectors and antiques experts, Chagall's works are notable not only for their artistic innovation but also for their rich cultural and historical significance. His art is housed in many prestigious museums worldwide, including the Marc Chagall National Museum in Nice, France, which focuses on his works inspired by religion and houses the series of paintings illustrating the biblical message.
For those interested in exploring Chagall's legacy and the vibrant intersection of culture, art, and history his work represents, signing up for updates on new product sales and auction events related to Marc Chagall can provide invaluable insights and opportunities. This is an invitation to engage more deeply with the world of art and culture that Chagall so uniquely encapsulated in his work.
Mark Twain, real name Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was an American humanist writer, journalist, and social activist.
As a young man, Samuel worked in the printing press and in the gold mines, then went on a steamboat trip to Europe and the "Holy Land". His travel letters, full of vivid descriptions and ironic observations, were very well received by the public and were later revised into his first book, Innocents Abroad, published in 1869.
The pseudonym "Mark Twain" first appeared in 1863 under one of Samuel Clemens' short stories, and since then all his significant works have been signed by that name.
A talented storyteller, a peculiar humorist and moralist, Twain knew and loved his many diverse characters. His scandalizers and dreamers, caring aunts and ambitious politicians, grumpy widows and lying aristocrats, cunning but generous slaves, sentimental moralists, brave and naive children - all these types of American people Twain gave voice to thanks to his masterful command of colloquial language, slang and jargon. Twain wrote a lot and in a variety of genres: humor and satire, philosophical fiction and journalism and others, but he always stood on the position of humanist and democrat.
Mark Twain became world famous for his travel stories and adventure novels about his childhood, these are "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (1876) and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1885). Twain is still one of America's, and indeed the world's, best and most beloved writers. His works have been and are still being published in many languages around the world.
Walt Whitman was an American poet and essayist.
For some time in his youth Whitman worked as a journalist and even published his own newspaper, where he raised issues of slavery. In 1855, he self-published a collection of his poems, Leaves of Grass. This book is now a milestone in American literature, although at the time of publication it was considered highly controversial. In the early 1860s, Whitman volunteered in hospitals for the Civil War, resulting in a collection of new poems.
During his lifetime, his first collection, Leaves of Grass, underwent many editions and grew to 300 poems. It was only towards the end of his life that Whitman found fame as the first national poet of the United States. Whitman was translated into Russian by K. Balmont, I. Kashkin, and K. Chukovsky.
