Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney - Wikimedia Commons
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney had not only been an important figure amongst artists in Greenwich Village but also to other artists throughout America because she “helped to build faith in living American art.”
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and the Whitney Studio were important to the then-tiny Village art scene because they provided an outlet for American artists whose work was under-appreciated at the time. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney was a socialite, sculptor, and one of the leading patrons of American art in the early 20th century. In 1907, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney established the Whitney Studio on 19 MacDougal Alley as a place to work on her sculptures. Whitney eventually started to purchase and display art by other Greenwich Village artists. As her collection grew, Whitney opened up the Whitney Studio Galleries in November 1928, which eventually evolved into the Whitney Museum.
Whitney’s acceptance of their work was very important because American contemporary art had been so under-appreciated at the time. “As an artist herself, she understood and could assist with both their dreams and their problems. She encouraged them by showing and buying their work, and she helped with their personal problems. She was convinced of their talent and importance.”
But eventually, Greenwich Village no longer needed the Whitney Museum. By the late 1920’s, many other institutions started to realize the worth of American art. American contemporary artists had new outlets in which to showcase their work through collectors, galleries, and even museums. However, Whitney and her museum left a lasting impact on the Village and national art community. The Whitney Museum of American Art is the “greatest single force in support of support of living art in the United States” from its days as Whitney Studio to the present.
Tags: Art, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, Museums
