Al Hirschfeld (American, 1903-2003). Marlene Deitrich, The New York Times interior illustration, October 8, 1967. In...

Description

Al Hirschfeld (American, 1903-2003)
Marlene Deitrich, The New York Times interior illustration, October 8, 1967
Ink on board
19-1/4 x 16 inches (48.9 x 40.6 cm) (image)
Signed lower right

PROVENANCE:
Alex, Cohen, producer and friend of Hirschfeld;
Private collection.

After ten years of touring the world giving ballad filled concerts, Dietrich made her New York/Broadway debut on October 9, 1967 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. She had waited, in part, because she wanted her arranger, Burt Bacharach, to conduct the orchestra that would appear with Dietrich. Outfitted in a $30,000 gown with bugle beads lined with 14-karat gold by Jean Louis of Hollywood, Dietrich consented to play six weeks for producer Alexander Cohen. The day before she opened, Hirschfeld's stunning drawing of the actress and singer, in her gown, appeared in the New York Times. It was an iconic image that caught a world-weary Dietrich in a sultry pose. Hirschfeld had years of study to make the drawing as the two had been friends for close to 25 years when the drawing appeared.

Dietrich was both a friend and admirer of Hirschfeld's wife, the German actress Dolly Haas. Both Dietrich and Haas had worked during WWII to defeat the forces of their homeland. Then Dietrich's daughter moved several houses down from the Hirschfelds on E. 95th Street, when her mother often staying with her. Dietrich doted on her grandson Pauly, and when he was infant, she pushed his stroller around Central Park dressed as a nurse to avoid fans and paparazzi. After she completed her stroll, she and Pauly would join the Hirschfelds for breakfast. A regular dinner guest too, Dietrich was always in the Hirschfeld home, notably, the artist had wallpaper behind their Steinway piano from 1958 that featured a Hirschfeld image of celebrities including Dietrich.

Alex Cohen was also a longtime friend of the Hirschfelds, and the artist drew both the producer and many of his shows for decades. Cohen purchased the drawing soon after it appeared. It remained such a popular image that it was published as a limited edition etching in 1982. Hirschfeld thought enough of the work and his friendship with he iconic actress that it was included in two of his books, Hirschfeld by Hirschfeld (1980) and Hirschfeld On Line (1999).


More information about Al Hirschfeld. See also: Hirschfeld, Al, Albert Hirschfeld Artist.

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