Florine Stettheimer's Jazz Age New York in 10 Paintings
A feature on DailyArt Magazine examines ten paintings by Florine Stettheimer, an American modernist whose work captures the spirit of Jazz Age New York. Stettheimer developed a distinct style blending Fauvist color, uneven perspectives, and sleek figures. Her subjects range from intimate portraits to bustling city scenes. Notable works include 'Music' (1920) at the Rose Art Museum, featuring dancer Vaclav Nijinsky; 'Studio Party (Soirée)' (1917–1919) at Yale University Art Gallery, depicting her salon gatherings; and 'The Cathedrals of Broadway' (1929) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which contrasts Broadway's glamour with the looming Great Depression. 'The Cathedrals of Wall Street' (1939) critiques capitalism, showing the New York Stock Exchange alongside figures like J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller. 'Portrait of Marcel Duchamp and Rrose Sélavy' (1923) at the Met portrays Duchamp with his female alter ego. 'Sunday Afternoon in the Country' (1917) at the Cleveland Museum of Art depicts a lively park scene. 'Fete on the Lake' at Columbia University shows a nocturnal celebration. 'Henry McBride on Winslow Homer' (1924) at the Met features critic Henry McBride in a Homer reproduction. 'Cathedrals of Art' (1939) at the Met represents New York's art museums. 'Spring Sale at Bendel’s' (1921) at the Norton Museum of Art captures the frenzy of department store shopping, with Stettheimer's sisters Ettie and Carrie appearing in her place.
Key facts
- Florine Stettheimer returned to New York in the 1910s and developed a personal style with Fauvist color and uneven perspectives.
- Her paintings capture the aesthetic of the Jazz Age and Roaring Twenties.
- Music (1920) is at the Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA.
- Studio Party (Soirée) (1917–1919) is at Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT, USA.
- The Cathedrals of Broadway (1929) is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA.
- The Cathedrals of Wall Street (1939) is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA.
- Portrait of Marcel Duchamp and Rrose Sélavy (1923) is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA.
- Sunday Afternoon in the Country (1917) is at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Fete on the Lake is at Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA.
- Henry McBride on Winslow Homer (1924) is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA.
- Cathedrals of Art (1939) is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA.
- Spring Sale at Bendel’s (1921) is at the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, FL, USA.
- Stettheimer depicted real people as sleek, elongated figures.
- She hosted parties for patrons and artists, calling them 'birthday parties'.
- The Cathedrals series includes Broadway, Wall Street, and Art.
- Stettheimer included herself in several paintings, often offering flowers.
- Her sisters Ettie and Carrie appear in Spring Sale at Bendel’s.
Entities
Artists
- Florine Stettheimer
- Vaclav Nijinsky
- Marcel Duchamp
- Rrose Sélavy
- Winslow Homer
- Henry McBride
- Ettie Stettheimer
- Carrie Stettheimer
- Jimmy Walker
- J.P. Morgan
- John D. Rockefeller
- George Washington
Institutions
- DailyArt Magazine
- Rose Art Museum
- Brandeis University
- Yale University Art Gallery
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
- Columbia University
- Norton Museum of Art
- New York Stock Exchange
- Salvation Army
- Subtreasury Building
- Federal Hall
- Strand Theatre
- Rialto Theatre
- Roxy Theatre
- Bendel's
Locations
- New York City
- New York
- USA
- Waltham
- MA
- New Haven
- CT
- Cleveland
- OH
- West Palm Beach
- FL
- Broadway
- Wall Street
- Nassau