Paris - Gertrude Stein's Salon - Essay Example

Gertrude Stein’s Parisian Salon Modernism was the of a movement within the arts that emerged in the late 19th century and continued on into theearly years of the 20th century. Gertrude Stein was at the centre of that movement. Paris was at the heart of the artistic world and so American born, artistic eccentric Gertrude Stein migrated there, together with her brother Leo in 1903. She was a multifaceted personality – an art collector and a publisher as well as being a journalist and a poet.

She was also a student of both psychology and medicine, but on her move to Paris intended to become an art critic ( Lewis, 2012). Her greatest and lasting influence though was perhaps in her role as a collector of post-modernist art, and through the artistic salon she maintained in her Parisian home ( A and E Television 2010) . Together with her brother until 1913 when they separated, she played host to many writers from many different countries. Her artistic purchases helped to establish and to support now well-known artists such as Picasso and Matisse in their early years.

The walls of her French home were almost invisible under the number of artistic efforts that covered them.Stein tried to bring the principles of Cubism and prose into her writing, which resulted in works which were not understandable to even intelligent readers, but at least she attempted to experiment, and so moved on literature from its Victorian state, and demonstrated that experimentation was at least possible.Her home was also open to various Americans visiting Paris such as F. Scott Fitzgerald.

As Lewis points out ( 2012) her influence on literature by others , far outweighed the influence of her own output. Ernest Hemingway for instance received encouragement and tuition from her. Stein is perhaps remembered today more for her long relationship with Alice B. Toklas, but her art purchases are celebrated today. It is through these that from the 21st century we can look back to see what a huge change Modernism was for the artistic world. In 2011 her collection, now dispersed, was brought back together in San Francisco, more than 150 pieces, but not the work of unknowns as they were when first purchased.

Stein helped these great artists to be recognized, and so helped to establish Cubism, Fauvism and Surrealism and for that she should be thanked. ReferencesA and E Television, Gertrude Stein, biography, 2010, 21st March 2012, < http://www.biography.com/people/gertrude-stein-9493261?page=2> Lewis,J., Gertrude Stein ( 1874 – 1946) About .com Women’s History , 2012, 21st March 2012, < http://womenshistory.about.com/od/gertrudestein/a/gertrude_stein.htm> PBS Newshour, San Francisco Exhibit Reunites Gertrude Steins’s Remarkable Art Collection, May 21st2012, 21st March 2012, < http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june11/steinart_05-31.html>