Customer Reviews

The Girl with the Gallery

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The title here is just a little bit misleading. Yes Edith was the girl with the gallery, but there were a lot of girls that had galleries. What Edith built was THE Gallery, at least so far as modern American art was concerned. Furthermore she did it from the outside, she was born Russian, coming to America when she was six, and at the young age of 26 founding the Downtown Gallery in Greenwich Village.

There was at the time no American art movement. The few painters of the time had great difficulty selling their work. Edith changed that. Her gallery specialized in the work of these New York locals, combined agressive selling with a devotion to this style that remained for forty four years.

It was largely because of her that there is an American art scene. This book is a fine tribute to her life that has largely been forgotten.

I had a lot of trouble putting aside the book so that I could take care of my normal daily chores and business. It was interesting to me from a variety of points. One of them was the excellent introduction information about how the author first learned of Edith Gegor Halpet and then how surprised she was to discover a treasure trove of available research material including an oral history that included more than 800 transcrbed pages. While I'm not in the gallery business, I do enjoy art and I found the book a very interesting story of how tough a business the marketing of art really is. Halpert's struggles opening and running a gallery have valuable lessons for any small business owner. Some of her sales techniques could be applied to almost any business with great success. The book is a great read and provides glimpses into the world of art, artists, patrons, museums, and the important contributions women have made to the art fields over the years. It's another example of how women have come into their own.

Fascinating bio and first rate discussion of the strange intersection of high-art and commerece. Shows how much artists owe to the people who support and believe in them.

A solid biography of a woman, who, from the early to middle part of the last century, was at the commercial center of American art.

The deceased and almost forgotten Edith Gregor Halpert, an immigrant with drive, is blessed with a thorough and admiring biography by Lindsay Pollock, a knowledgeable writer on things related to the New York art scene.

If you want to know more about how a small commercial art gallery actually operated; big money collectors, such as Mrs. Rockefeller and son Nelson; artists, such as Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O'Keefe, and Jacob Lawrence; and such important threads of the art world as early American primitives--buy and read this book.

It is a tribute to the power of one focused person, who made a difference in what were hard times for American artists.

Was most interesting I learned a lot about Art Gallerys for someone who does not know tomuch about Art.

Gallery owner Georgia O'Keefe and Ben Shahn gallery artists she supported, went to bat for during the McCarthy era; a fascinating read for art enthusiasts. "The Girl with the Gallery"

I'm really glad the author wrote this book because without this engaging biography, few people would know about this icon of the American art world. The wisdom of "out of sight, out of mind" came to mind when I first saw this book - how soon people forget what is in the past. Luckily, the world is graced by people like the author Lindsay Pollack who are willing to remind us how we got to where we are. Thanks for writing this book Lindsay.

As a 40 year veteran of the art business, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. One doesn't need to be in the art business to like this book, however. I've recommended "The Girl with the Gallery" to numerous people not connected with the art business and they all loved it. Lindsay Pollock weaves the fascinating story of an extraordinary woman, Edith Halpert, from her humble beginnings to her brilliant success as a clever art dealer in Manhattan. Not only was Mrs. Halpert a consummate businesswoman, she also started several trends in American art that still affect us today. The writing was excellent, and I agree that once the book is picked up it can't be put down.

This recent book (2006) is well researched and the bibliography is extensive and impressive. It does treat Edith Halpert in a sometimes "only female" Gallery owner role - and there were many more than just her. Not mentioning other key female gallery owners in New York at that time is a major and curious ommission. Betty Parsons, Peggy Guggenheim, and even the later Virginia Zabriskie are important aspects of a thorough study involving how Edith might have interacted with these important figures. Still, the book was very readable and provides many interesting and historical facts to the art world of that period. Some details about who was buying art at this time is often ommited in other studies around this subject. - Michael Eggert, Novato, CA Ph.D. (Art History)

Artists should read this book & make note of all the marketing methods Edith Gregor Halpert employed to make it in the art world ... (actually this should be required reading for all gallery owners & curators too...) Come to think of it , anyone involved somehow in art should read this book ... (also , it is interesting how possibly the lead in oil paints caused ear troubles & related brain tumor in those working close to paint- makes one think that is what Van Gogh also suffered from - lead poisoning ...makes one re-evaluate toxicity & proximity as well as ear problems in artists , starting with tinnitus , like a ringing in one's ears ... is madness among artists just lead poisoning ?) ... fascinating stuff...great read ...