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Albert Al Hirschfeld Mixed Media

American, 1903-2003
For nearly 70 years, Al Hirschfeld created iconic caricatures of theater, film and television celebrities, capturing moments in time and documenting U.S. entertainment history in the process. Art historian Lloyd Goodrich called Hirschfeld “one of the few masters of graphic humor.” "New York Times" art critic John Russell dubbed him “the Fred Astaire of pen and ink.” Brendan Gill of "The New Yorker" stated, “To be a star on Broadway is to be drawn by Hirschfeld.” And many performers believed that, regardless of any other accolades they might achieve, “if Al Hirschfeld hasn’t drawn you, you don’t exist.” Hirschfeld began his career as a political cartoonist and became a theater caricaturist for "The New York Times" in 1925. He began creating his pure line drawings on a trip to Bali in the 1930s, and, over the course of his career, mastered the technique of using lines to capture the spirit and personality of his subjects. Hidden in each drawing is his daughter’s name, Nina, and so many people became obsessed with finding all of the Nina’s, that he developed a system of noting the number of Nina’s in each work next to his signature. In addition to "The New Yorker" and "The New York Times," Hirschfeld’s drawings appeared on playbills and posters as well as in advertisements. As a result of his work, he earned two Tony awards for lifetime achievement in theater and had a Broadway theater renamed in his honor.
(Biography provided by Rosenbaum Contemporary)
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Artist: Albert Al Hirschfeld
Al Hirschfeld "Beat the Band" New York Times Broadway Theatre Illustration 1940s
By Albert Al Hirschfeld
Located in New York, NY
Framed size: 22 1/2 x 26 1/2 inches. Published in The New York Times, October 11, 1942. In collaboration the Al Hirschfeld Foundation Al Hirschfeld’s drawings stand as one of the mo...
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1940s American Realist Albert Al Hirschfeld Mixed Media

Materials

Ink, Board

Al Hirschfeld "Art Week" NYC illustration New York Times poster design 1940
By Albert Al Hirschfeld
Located in New York, NY
Poster design for National Art Week, November, 1940. In collaboration the Al Hirschfeld Foundation Al Hirschfeld’s drawings stand as one of the most innovative efforts in establishi...
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1940s American Realist Albert Al Hirschfeld Mixed Media

Materials

Paper, Mixed Media

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