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One-Man Show: The Life and Art of Bernard Perlin
A 2017 STONEWALL HONOR BOOK (THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION) AND LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALIST
Bernard Perlin (1918-2014) was an extraordinary figure in twentieth century American art and gay cultural history, an acclaimed artist and sexual renegade who reveled in pushing social, political, and artistic boundaries. His work regularly appeared in popular magazines of the 1940s, fifties, and sixties; was collected by Rockefellers, Whitneys, and Astors; and was acquired by major museums, including the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Tate Modern. His portrait clients included well-known literary, artistic, theatrical, political, and high society figures. As a government propaganda artist and war artist-correspondent, he produced many now-iconic images of World War II. From the 1930s on, he also daringly committed to canvas and paper scenes of underground gay bars and nude studies of street hustlers, among other aspects of his active and dedicated gay life.
Socially, he moved in the upper echelons of New York gay society, a glittering "cufflink crowd" that included George Platt Lynes, Lincoln Kirstein, Glenway Wescott, Monroe Wheeler, Paul Cadmus, Jared French, George Tooker, Pavel Tchelitchew, Truman Capote, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, and Jerome Robbins. He also counted among his most intimate companions such luminaries in the arts as Vincent Price, Clifton Webb, Ben Shahn, Samuel Barber, Gian Carlo Menotti, Aaron Copland, Christopher Isherwood, Don Bachardy, Martha Gellhorn, Betsy Drake, Muriel Rukeyser, Carson McCullers, Philip Johnson, and E.M. Forster. Yet he was equally at home in the gay underworlds of New York and Rome, where his unbridled sexual escapades put him in competition with the likes of Jean Genet and Tennessee Williams.
In One-Man Show, Michael Schreiber chronicles the storied life, illustrious friends and lovers, and astounding adventures of Bernard Perlin through no-holds-barred interviews with the artist, candid excerpts from Perlin's unpublished memoirs, never-before-seen photos, and an extensive selection of Bernard Perlin's incredible public and private art.
Bernard Perlin (1918-2014) was an extraordinary figure in twentieth century American art and gay cultural history, an acclaimed artist and sexual renegade who reveled in pushing social, political, and artistic boundaries. His work regularly appeared in popular magazines of the 1940s, fifties, and sixties; was collected by Rockefellers, Whitneys, and Astors; and was acquired by major museums, including the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Tate Modern. His portrait clients included well-known literary, artistic, theatrical, political, and high society figures. As a government propaganda artist and war artist-correspondent, he produced many now-iconic images of World War II. From the 1930s on, he also daringly committed to canvas and paper scenes of underground gay bars and nude studies of street hustlers, among other aspects of his active and dedicated gay life.
Socially, he moved in the upper echelons of New York gay society, a glittering "cufflink crowd" that included George Platt Lynes, Lincoln Kirstein, Glenway Wescott, Monroe Wheeler, Paul Cadmus, Jared French, George Tooker, Pavel Tchelitchew, Truman Capote, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, and Jerome Robbins. He also counted among his most intimate companions such luminaries in the arts as Vincent Price, Clifton Webb, Ben Shahn, Samuel Barber, Gian Carlo Menotti, Aaron Copland, Christopher Isherwood, Don Bachardy, Martha Gellhorn, Betsy Drake, Muriel Rukeyser, Carson McCullers, Philip Johnson, and E.M. Forster. Yet he was equally at home in the gay underworlds of New York and Rome, where his unbridled sexual escapades put him in competition with the likes of Jean Genet and Tennessee Williams.
In One-Man Show, Michael Schreiber chronicles the storied life, illustrious friends and lovers, and astounding adventures of Bernard Perlin through no-holds-barred interviews with the artist, candid excerpts from Perlin's unpublished memoirs, never-before-seen photos, and an extensive selection of Bernard Perlin's incredible public and private art.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 12, 2016
Bernard Perlin - an extraordinary figure in 20th Century American art and gay cultural history
Chicago author Michael Schreiber’s contribution to the arts is significantly broad. He is a teacher, a writer, a curator, and regularly contributes to the popular blog This American House, which chronicles their adventures restoring their Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Iowa. ONE MAN SHOW is his debut book in which he chronicles the storied life, illustrious friends and lovers, and astounding adventures of Bernard Perlin through no-holds-barred interviews with the artist, candid excerpts from Perlin’s unpublished memoirs, never-before-seen photos, and an extensive selection of Bernard Perlin’s incredible public and private art, including ‘Orthodox Boys’ (1948) the first contemporary painting admitted to the Tate Gallery, and the Tate’s first American work since Whistler.
Perhaps unfamiliar to some, artist Bernard Perlin’s influence in American art continues to grow after his death. He was an extraordinary figure in 20th Century American art and gay cultural history, an acclaimed artist and sexual renegade who reveled in pushing social, political, and artistic boundaries. His work regularly appeared in popular magazines of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s; was collected by Rockefellers, Whitneys, and Astors; and was acquired by major museums, including the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Tate Modern.
Perlin lived and painted in Italy from 1948 until 1954 with the assistance of a Guggenheim Fellowship. There, he began to move away from the social realism of his previous work and instead paint, in his words, “beautiful pictures”: landscapes, still lifes, figures. He returned to New York to document the “cocktail culture” of the late 1950s, but in reaction to the rise of Abstract Expressionism, Perlin left the New York art scene for Connecticut in 1959. There, he continued his work as a figurative painter, although in switching from tempera to oil in the mid-1950s, his own work became increasingly more abstract. He continued painting until his passing at age 95 in January 2014.
As a propaganda artist and war artist-correspondent, he produced many now-iconic images of World War II. His portrait clients included many well-known figures in the arts and politics; his most intimate companions such luminaries as Vincent Price, George Platt Lynes, Glenway Wescott, Paul Cadmus, Leonard Bernstein, and Truman Capote. From the 1930s on, he also daringly committed to canvas and paper scenes of underground gay bars and nude studies of street hustlers, among other aspects of his active and dedicated gay life.
This book – the perfect coupling of visual and written approaches – is not only fine art history writing, but it also is a strong statement about the past century’s traversal of gay rights. The images are extraordinary and the interviews and commentary and historical overview by Michael Schreiber put the finishing touches on this fine, handsome book
Chicago author Michael Schreiber’s contribution to the arts is significantly broad. He is a teacher, a writer, a curator, and regularly contributes to the popular blog This American House, which chronicles their adventures restoring their Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Iowa. ONE MAN SHOW is his debut book in which he chronicles the storied life, illustrious friends and lovers, and astounding adventures of Bernard Perlin through no-holds-barred interviews with the artist, candid excerpts from Perlin’s unpublished memoirs, never-before-seen photos, and an extensive selection of Bernard Perlin’s incredible public and private art, including ‘Orthodox Boys’ (1948) the first contemporary painting admitted to the Tate Gallery, and the Tate’s first American work since Whistler.
Perhaps unfamiliar to some, artist Bernard Perlin’s influence in American art continues to grow after his death. He was an extraordinary figure in 20th Century American art and gay cultural history, an acclaimed artist and sexual renegade who reveled in pushing social, political, and artistic boundaries. His work regularly appeared in popular magazines of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s; was collected by Rockefellers, Whitneys, and Astors; and was acquired by major museums, including the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Tate Modern.
Perlin lived and painted in Italy from 1948 until 1954 with the assistance of a Guggenheim Fellowship. There, he began to move away from the social realism of his previous work and instead paint, in his words, “beautiful pictures”: landscapes, still lifes, figures. He returned to New York to document the “cocktail culture” of the late 1950s, but in reaction to the rise of Abstract Expressionism, Perlin left the New York art scene for Connecticut in 1959. There, he continued his work as a figurative painter, although in switching from tempera to oil in the mid-1950s, his own work became increasingly more abstract. He continued painting until his passing at age 95 in January 2014.
As a propaganda artist and war artist-correspondent, he produced many now-iconic images of World War II. His portrait clients included many well-known figures in the arts and politics; his most intimate companions such luminaries as Vincent Price, George Platt Lynes, Glenway Wescott, Paul Cadmus, Leonard Bernstein, and Truman Capote. From the 1930s on, he also daringly committed to canvas and paper scenes of underground gay bars and nude studies of street hustlers, among other aspects of his active and dedicated gay life.
This book – the perfect coupling of visual and written approaches – is not only fine art history writing, but it also is a strong statement about the past century’s traversal of gay rights. The images are extraordinary and the interviews and commentary and historical overview by Michael Schreiber put the finishing touches on this fine, handsome book
December 4, 2017
2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: One-Man Show: The Life and Art of Bernard Perlin
1) I always find books like this fascinating as they give an in-depth into a person. For me it was a great read… and I know I’ll read it again.
2) Biography is hard to evaluate; this is a very good one, very lively due to pictures and sort of interview with the protagonist.
3) The art and historical background is AMAZING.
1) I always find books like this fascinating as they give an in-depth into a person. For me it was a great read… and I know I’ll read it again.
2) Biography is hard to evaluate; this is a very good one, very lively due to pictures and sort of interview with the protagonist.
3) The art and historical background is AMAZING.
February 22, 2017
Bernard Perlin is not only an inspiring artist, who is among one of many lost chapters in art history. But also living an audacious life in a time where being out led to horrific consequences. Schreiber's well-crafted storytelling through his ethnographic approach to better understand Perlin's work and the environment he was surrounded by, leaves you feeling that you were a part of Perlin's life. I recommend this book whether you are looking for another influential artist to spark your creativity or want to learn how someone in the [LGBTQIA] community maintained their sexuality when a society abhor it. -- AJ Segneri, artist and LGBTQIA activist.
February 16, 2017
I was very surprised that I enjoyed this technique of the interview. Michael did a great job in providing the background information needed to enjoy this. No need for Wikipedia. Found life to be very interesting and telling of a gay man in the 40s—70s. Yes, it is a privileged existence, but so fascinating. Wonderfully published. The art is well presented.
November 5, 2016
(actual rating: 3.5)
I have never heard of Bernard Perlin before, so I was glad to get the chance to learn about his life.
First of all I know next to nothing about art. I can say whether I like it or not, but that's it. I think that is why I couldn't lose myself in this book - I lack the basics. So the beginning (which consists of different people telling facts about Bernard Perlin and his art were a little bit confusing and to be honest boring).
But then this biography really starts and I had fun reading it. I liked how it is rather a dialogue then some guy writing about another guy. It felt like I was really getting to Bernard Perlin. Especially because there are photographs 'everywhere'. You know how you sometimes talk to your grandparents and while they're telling you something they get out their old photo album? This book's kinda the same.
(While reading I somehow tapped on a picture of his art and... did you know you can zoom in with your kindle?! Probably you did, but that was an eye opener to me, let me tell you.)
Sadly sometimes the sentences were all over the place. Now I don't know if my kindle had trouble with the format, but it sure got confusing sometimes.
It is a great book - if you are interested in art. My uncle would have loved this, I'm sure.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
I have never heard of Bernard Perlin before, so I was glad to get the chance to learn about his life.
First of all I know next to nothing about art. I can say whether I like it or not, but that's it. I think that is why I couldn't lose myself in this book - I lack the basics. So the beginning (which consists of different people telling facts about Bernard Perlin and his art were a little bit confusing and to be honest boring).
But then this biography really starts and I had fun reading it. I liked how it is rather a dialogue then some guy writing about another guy. It felt like I was really getting to Bernard Perlin. Especially because there are photographs 'everywhere'. You know how you sometimes talk to your grandparents and while they're telling you something they get out their old photo album? This book's kinda the same.
(While reading I somehow tapped on a picture of his art and... did you know you can zoom in with your kindle?! Probably you did, but that was an eye opener to me, let me tell you.)
Sadly sometimes the sentences were all over the place. Now I don't know if my kindle had trouble with the format, but it sure got confusing sometimes.
It is a great book - if you are interested in art. My uncle would have loved this, I'm sure.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
January 18, 2017
"I have a note from him that I keep because it's so heartbreaking – heartbreaking because it's as though I had a pound of roses and threw them away for thistle. I think he really loved me. I think I was the love of his life. And I think he was the love of my life. I loved him more than any of the three thousand men. Anyhow, another tangent in this gaudy thing called life."
April 23, 2017
under estimated talent~~
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews