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Catalog Data

Artist:
Philippe Halsman, 02 May 1906 - 25 Jun 1979  Search this
Sitter:
Margaret Wise Brown, 1910 - 1952  Search this
Medium:
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions:
Image: 19.3 x 24.3cm (7 5/8 x 9 9/16")
Sheet: 20.3 x 25.2cm (8 x 9 15/16")
Mat: 35.6 x 45.7cm (14 x 18")
Type:
Photograph
Date:
1946
Exhibition Label:
Born Brooklyn, New York
Margaret Wise Brown once mused, “The first great wonder at the world is big in me. That is why I write.” Brown’s work at the Bureau of Educational Experiments (now Bank Street College of Education) in New York City, an experimental academy dedicated to early childhood development, inspired her to write children’s books. Between 1937 and her death in 1952, she authored more than one hundred books, including such classics as The Runaway Bunny (1942), The Little Island (1946), and Goodnight Moon (1947). In her writings, which often use repetition of language, Brown evokes the poetry of Gertrude Stein, whom she greatly admired.
Philippe Halsman photographed Brown one year before Goodnight Moon was released and a few years after she began living with her life partner (playwright and actress Blanche Oelrichs). This portrait reveals Brown’s preference for handwriting her manuscripts using a quill pen.
Nacida en Brooklyn, Nueva York
Margaret Wise Brown explicó cierta vez: “Llevo en mí ese gran sentimiento original de asombro ante el mundo. Es por eso que escribo”. Brown trabajó en el Centro de Experimentos Educativos (hoy Colegio de Educación Bank Street) en Nueva York, una academia experimental dedicada al desarrollo de la niñez temprana, y esto la inspiró a escribir libros infantiles. Entre 1937 y su muerte en 1952, produjo más de 100 libros, incluidos clásicos como El conejito andarín (1942), La pequeña isla (1946) y Buenas noches, luna (1947). Con un estilo que recurre con frecuencia a la repetición, Brown evoca la poesía de Gertrude Stein, a quien admiraba.
Philippe Halsman fotografió a Brown un año antes de publicarse Buenas noches, luna y pocos años después de que esta empezara a convivir con su compañera de vida, la dramaturga y actriz Blanche Oelrichs. Este retrato revela su preferencia de escribir con una pluma de ave.
Topic:
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair  Search this
Costume\Jewelry\Brooch  Search this
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Table  Search this
Interior\Domestic  Search this
Home Furnishings\Lighting Devices\Lamp  Search this
Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Writing implement\Pen\Quill  Search this
Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Inkstand  Search this
Costume\Dress Accessory\Feather  Search this
Home Furnishings\Telephone  Search this
Margaret Wise Brown: Female  Search this
Margaret Wise Brown: Literature\Writer\Children's book author  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Steve Bello in memory of Jane Halsman Bello
Object number:
NPG.2004.42
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
Copyright:
© Philippe Halsman Archive
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location:
Currently not on view
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm44f993338-7340-4a20-b184-e81c1dafd5d7
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.2004.42