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FLORINE STETTHEIMER

SPRING SALE AT BENDEL'S, 1921

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About the Artwork

Florine Stettheimer, along with her two sisters and their mother, presided over one of Manhattan's premier intellectual salons during the 1910s and 1920s, hosting such famous guests as Marcel Duchamp, Alfred Stieglitz, and Carl Van Vechten. Florine Stettheimer produced many portraits of her friends and family, depicting the social interactions of the American avant-garde at picnics and cocktail parties. Painted in her typical jewellike palette of bright reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and pinks, Spring Sale at Bendel's offers a humorous glimpse of the chaotic world of high fashion at bargain prices, wittily portraying the indecorous behavior of Stettheimer's own upper class. The opulent red draperies part to reveal an inner sanctum of privilege and luxury where members of New York's elite leap across tables to snatch up sumptuous fabrics, twisting and preening to assess the glamorous effects of the merchandise. The frenzy of attenuated women scattered across the canvas is tempered by the figure of the sales manager at the foot of the grand staircase, ringleader of this retail circus. In a final gesture of amusing extravagance, Stettheimer signed the work by painting her initials on the monogrammed sweater of the Pekingese dog politely waiting in the corner.
Emily Hage, from Masterpieces from the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Impressionism and Modern Art (2007), p. 202.

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About Our Prints

Quality
Philadelphia Museum of Art Custom Prints offers exclusive custom reproductions of artworks in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Hand-made in the USA using gallery-quality materials, we create prints as true to the original work as possible, using strict color management protocols and state-of-the-art printing technology.
Selection
Many of the works offered through this store are exclusive and not available anywhere else. In addition, new works are continually added to the offering so make sure to come back and see the new releases.
Customization
You have found the work that speaks to you. Now what? Using our innovative custom framing tool you can preview exactly what your finished and framed art will look like. We offer many different moulding styles so there is sure to be a match for any type of decor.

Member Discounts

As always, members will receive their discount for all transactions processed through our Custom Prints store. Simply enter your Member ID during the checkout process and your discount will be applied.