May 17, 2013 through January 5, 2014
Boris Chaliapin was the portrait artist Time magazine’s editors turned to first when they needed a cover in a hurry. As Time’s most prolific artist he created 413 covers for the publication. He could execute excellent likenesses in as little as 12 hours; record speed for the years between 1942 and 1970 when he was with the magazine. Week after week, millions of faithful readers recognized Chaliapin’s familiar signature on the cover. Chaliapin’s nickname from his co-workers was “Mr. TIME.”
The National Portrait Gallery has more than 300 of these covers in its collections. The exhibition will feature 26 original works of men and women most of whom appeared on Time’s cover during Chaliapin’s twenty-eight year career. National Portrait Gallery historian, James Barber is the curator of this exhibition.
