Abstract

Abstract:

Gertrude Stein’s first U.S. publication appeared in the unexpected August 1912 special issue of an avant-garde photography magazine called Camera Work. Although her portraits “Henri Matisse” and “Pablo Picasso” appeared there side-by-side, they have subsequently been published and studied separately despite the fact that Stein situated them as a pair and referred to them as a single work. The critical importance of restoring these pieces to their original context is multifold: considering “Matisse” and “Picasso” as companion pieces alters the context and meaning of each while situating Stein’s involvement in the artists’ contentious rivalry. With this publication, Stein moves to legitimize Picasso and discredit Matisse; at the same time, she defies the authority of her brother, Leo, pursues her ambitions to lead their shared salon, and safeguards both her personal and financial investments in cubism.

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