Al Hirschfeld’s caricatures are always fun to look at. The first ones that come to mind are the ones he drew for Fred Allen’s book
Treadmill to Oblivion. This one’s from a 1953 trade publication (I can’t remember which one; I found it well over a year ago) showing some of the cast of film “Main Street to Broadway.”
© Al Hirschfeld. Al Hirschfeld is represented exclusively by the Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd., New York.
In the comments below, Margo Feiden has asked that the above note be attached. I’m happy to learn from her there is a Hirschfeld website. Please go to
this site to see more of the fine work of Al Hirschfeld.
Thanks for posting the Al Hirschfeld artwork. I’ve always enjoyed his caricatures. In later years he would hide his daughter’s name, Nina, in his drawings. Usually it was in the lines illustrating a person’s hair or in a pleated skirt or ruffled collar. He would put a number next to his name indicating the number of times “Nina” appeared in a drawing.
ReplyDeleteMargo Feiden here. As you may already know, my Gallery has proudly represented Al Hirschfeld since 1969. We have been maintaining the Al Hirschfeld Archives since then, but the scope of these Archives reaches back to the beginnings of Hirschfeld's career. The Drawing you posted is of the featured cast of the film, “Main Street to Broadway.” This Hirschfeld Drawing graced the cover of the magazine, Theatre Arts. It bore the issue date of July,1953.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to help clarify the lovely comment left here by your reader, Paul B. Paul is quite right that Hirschfeld would hide his daughter’s name, Nina, in his drawings. That custom began when Nina was born, in 1945. I would characterize that as midway in Hirschfeld's career, rather than in "later years."
And now, Yowp (I hope I'm addressing you properly!), may I ask you to attach the correct copyright/credit line to this Hirschfeld work: © Al Hirschfeld. Al Hirschfeld Al Hirschfeld is represented exclusively by the Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd., New York.
Most cordially,
Margo Feiden
alhirschfeld.com
One of the etchings you have for sale on eBay has the same image of Tallulah Bankhead that's in this Theatre Arts cover, but with a dressing room in the background instead of other people. Do you know which one was drawn first?
DeleteMy introduction to The New York Times was my father showing me Hirschfeld drawings in the Arts & Leisure section. We would find the Ninas together, or do it separately and compare results. Later I saw his drawings for S. J. Perelman's books. A true master of his craft.
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