Theresa F. Bernstein (American, born Kraków, Austro-Hungarian Empire, now Poland, 1890-2002)
The Milliners
INV-2537
Theresa F. Bernstein (American, born Kraków, Austro-Hungarian Empire, now Poland, 1890-2002)1921
The Milliners
Theresa F. Bernstein (American, born Kraków, Austro-Hungarian Empire, now Poland, 1890-2002) →RealismModernismpainting
Date
1921
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
102.2 × 127.6 cm (40 1/4 × 50 1/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Through prior bequest of Arthur Rubloff
In The Milliners, Theresa Bernstein depicted a group of women sewing accessories on hats, exploring the aesthetic qualities of community and concentration. The window at upper left suggests that they are in a city apartment, perhaps undertaking piecework at home to earn extra income.
An important voice in early American modernism, Bernstein celebrated the vibrancy and variety of immigrant and working class experiences in 20th-century New York. Born in Krakow, she trained at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, a noted center for female professionalism in the arts. Bernstein pursued a dynamic style of realism throughout her long career, working well past the age of 100.
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