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Living Self-Portrait: Al Hirschfeld

Producer
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
CC-M Productions
Sitter
Al Hirschfeld, 21 Jun 1903 - 21 Jan 2003
Interviewer
Marc Pachter
Date
June 28, 1996
Type
Time-Based Media
Medium
Video recording
Dimensions
Duration: 01 hr., 01 min.
Topic
Al Hirschfeld: Male
Al Hirschfeld: Literature\Writer
Al Hirschfeld: Visual Arts\Artist\Caricaturist
Al Hirschfeld: Visual Arts\Artist\Illustrator
Al Hirschfeld: Visual Arts\Artist\Printmaker\Lithographer
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution: Audio/Visual Special Collection
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© 1996 NPG, SI
Object number
AV.1996.EDU.2
Description
The Smithsonian Institution’s Marc Pachter interviews Al Hirschfeld as part of the National Portrait Gallery’s education series, Living Self-Portraits. Al Hirschfeld is best known for his caricatures of theatrical superstars. The conversation paints a portrait of Hirschfeld’s life and the path that led him to his art form. From his family’s move from Saint Louis to New York so that he could pursue drawing, to his early career at Goldman Pictures and Selznick Pictures, to his time in France. The two men discuss how he came to draw for publications like the Times and Brooklyn Eagle and the influences of Tahiti and Bali on his artwork. The interview concludes with Hirschfeld telling Pachter of his opinions on theatre today. Hirschfeld has been witness to the growth and development of theatrical productions. He has seen theatre improve tremendously, which has provided him over the years with ever more stimulating content for his caricatures.
Recorded on June 28, 1996.
Full transcript available upon request from NPGResearch@si.edu. Please include the Object Number in your request. Please allow 3-5 business days for processing.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view