The Girl With the Gallery 1st (first) edition Text Only

by Lindsay Pollock

Excellent Book

Genres: Art, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Art History, Museums, Female Authors

Hardcover

First published October 30, 2006

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was longer and harder to get through than I would have liked. It reads a little like a chock-full-of-information thesis turned into a book because the subject matter was somewhat interesting. However, I did end up liking it overall, but it is a little too dense and a little less exciting than I'd hoped.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A likable biography of Edith Halpert -- a significant and somewhat mysterious art dealer. Like many biographies it went on a bit too long and I never finished it. It kind of read like a PhD dissertation.

[Debbie Hagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so disappointed in this book. I'm a big art lover and have worked in art galleries and have been involved in the arts for many years. Thus, I love the history of art and learning about artists and various art styles and the evolution of art galleries, especially in New York City. Thus, I'm always eager to learn about how artists are discovered and how they rise in fame. This book promised all of this and more, but somehow author Lindsay Pollock managed to remove all the fun and personality in this story and, thus, make it incredibly boring. We're given a lot of factual details, but what's left out is the personalities of the art dealers, the artists, and the insider view of seeing the gallery grow and endure struggles. Somehow, Pollock has managed to turn a book that should have been a fun and insightful adventure into what feels like a tedious college textbook. It's boring.

Pollock gives you the facts of how Edith Gregor Halpert (just twenty-six years old) opened her own Downtown Gallery, in Greenwich Village. The young dealer begins at the ground level. She knows almost nothing about the art business. Even so, she throws herself fully into this project and is determined to find the best artists, promote them, and turn this into a thriving gallery. She hunts down Stuart Davis, Jacob Lawrence, Georgia O'Keeffe, Ben Shahn, Arthur Dove, and so many others. Interesting, right? You'd think so, but it's not. The reader doesn't get up close and personal with these artists. In general, Pollock tells us what happens in the gallery, but readers don't get up close and personal to the activities in the gallery or to the artists. Instead, Pollock gives a rather boring summation.

[Mary Ahern · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad that this book was written! The contribution of women in the arts has been written out of history, the artists, collectors & galleries. It is long past the time that we will tolerate being erased. Thank you Lindsay Pollock!

[Olga Vannucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hardest working gallerist,
Edith Halpert, of Downtown,
She developed reknown
For American artists.

[Rome Celli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous story of a remarkable woman who lived through tumultuous times. The writing was dry and uninspired.

[Judy Spicer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of modern art in the first half of the 20th century. Focused on the NYC art scene where Edith was the first woman to own run a gallery.

[Louis Frillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic description of the art world in New York from the 1920s on wrapped in the story of Edith Halpert, a immigrant, who wrapped herself in the American dream

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

girl? for a mature woman who did a lot in her life? that is quite some nerve from a sub-mediocre state museum bureaucrat who built a career on kissing rears.

[Alexis Stahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crammed full of information, but an eminently readable story. This biography on Edith Halpert introduced me to a remarkable person and filled in a lot of gaps in my understanding of 20th century art collecting. I cannot believe this woman was never more than a footnote in any book that I have read on collectors, galleries, museums, or artists. According to this book, she was very ahead of he time and worked tirelessly on promoting enduring and important American art. She is responsible (at least in part) for: the appreciation of early-American folk art, the "discovery" of Jacob Lawrence, the placement of many modern works into museums, and the first municipal art gallery in New York. Many of the methods she devised to promote and organize her gallery are now standard practice and still innovative. Pollack compiled this book mainly from interviews she conducted and Edith's own records kept at the Smithsonian Archives. This was important work uncovering a rarely-recognized, undeniable influence on the course of art in America.

[Amy Talluto · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject matter of this biography, Edith Gregor Halpert, is a fascinating one. She was a major supporter, exhibitor and promotor of the homegrown Modernist art movement in the US. She was an amazing female entrepreneur at a time when that phrase was more than rare. The biography itself however did not do her full justice. I felt as if she were a shadow figure darting behind gauzy curtains...never pinned down, never fully characterized in a human way. Perhaps it was due to the main source of research being her gallery records, as the book reads very dryly. The text is sometimes redundant, awkward in description and characterization, and full of facts and people that fail to fully, roundly come to life. The book stands as a useful scholarly resource for a very deserving subject, but it was not the most engaging read.

[Brita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting biography of the very influential, but often not mentioned, gallerist Edith Gregor Halpert, who singlehandedly revolutionized the downtown art market scene. Very well written and thoroughly researched. A good read for anyone who is interested in the art market, and in particular, the development of the NY City market in competition with the European scene to establish and recognize American genres, movements and artists.

[Jessica Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about a woman who revolutionized the art world and market, but is often forgotten and ignored when chronicling the history of the art world. Edith Halpert was an amazing person who championed American Art and founded one of the first galleries in New York before it was the art capital of the world. Great read for someone who has an interest in the art business and amazing woman who were pioneers in the industry.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provided a nice view of the New York art scene prior to the explosion of the abstract expressionists. Halpert kept her business afloat through the depression by searching out untapped prospects such as Folk art, which she sold to wealthy clients. Halpert represented artists such Charles Sheeler, Stuart Davis, Ben Shahn, and (after Stieglitz' death) Georgia O'Keeffe.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about a woman who startrd with nothing and became on of the top gallery owners in NYC and was the first big dealer and believer or American art in the 30s. I am taking the knowledge of Edith and appling it to my life. I also love that I met the autor at the museum and she signed my book!

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look at one woman's energy and vision in creating an interest in American modern and folk art. As the owner of Downtown Gallery, she helped make a name for such artists as Stuart Davis, Jacob Lawrence, Arthur Dove, Ben Shahn, Georgia O'Keefe and Yasuo Kuniyoshi. Her unraveling toward the end of her life was sad.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating view of the world of art and the art dealer in NY during the 30s and beyond. I am amazed and embarrassed that I had never heard of Edith Halpert before reading this book. What an influential person she was....and what a sad ending her life had. I would have loved to have known her in her prime. I'll bet she and Georgia O'Keeffe were quite the pair!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps I'm burning out on detailed biographies, perhaps it was the author. I enjoyed learning more about the WPA period. I have a great interest in the modern art movement and American artists. I think that as we went through her life it was a lot if the same patterns over and over. It wore me out.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating biography of an art world pioneer, a remarkable businesswoman and conoisseur. Pollock draws upon extensive archival records in presenting a meticulously detailed insider's view of Edith Halpert's development of the Downtown Gallery and her relationships with artists and collectors.

[Susan Weinberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting biography of the woman who played a significant role in furthering the early modern art movement. She brought a unique drive and creativity to her gallery which launched many well-known artists. Very much worth reading for anyone with an interest in the arts as it presents an intimate view of the artists and the efforts to shape their legacy.

[Miriam "Mayang" Azurin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring read for gallery owners, artists , bohemians and art patrons. There's this huge story of persistence, class and fight to be relevant. This is what I want to with our small but promising gallery. I thank Lindsay for sharing Edith's story in a feast of words and smell. Edith also generously shared a lot of insights -- like she wanted all those in her train to go their sweet destination.

[Barbara Marburger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific read but depressing! Working in the art world, astonished at how much I did not know about this woman who dedicated her life to putting American modernist artists on the map at such a challenging time. I have long known the sticker, DownTown Gallery - but so little about the woman, Edith Halpert. A must read for anyone making their way in the art biz.

[Nils Montan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the biography of the great New Yokr city art gallery owner and dealer, Edith Gregor Happert. She made her way in a man's world and a man's profession and along the way supported some of the great artists of the first half of the 20th century.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fairly light, easy read for a biography. am now fascinated with edith gregor halper + find her totally inspirational.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story of an early modernist art dealer working out of Greenwich Village. Represented Stuart Davis, Jacob Lawrence early in their careers.

[Robin]

I started this and loved it. It has gotten lost in the stacks since. Hopefully I pick it back up and finish it soon!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! How I wish I could have met Edith. What an amazing woman! I wish I could read this book daily to remind me how important the work of art professionals are. She is my new art hero.

[Sarah French · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting!

[Jonathan Frederick Walz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good: well written and I learned some things. Recommended.

[Mills College Library]

709.2 P776 2007