Morris Hirshfield's Illustrated Encyclopedia
Scope and Contents
One copy of the book Our Living World: An Artistic Edition of the Rev. J. G. Wood’s National History of Animate Creation, volume 2. New York: Selmar Hess, 1885.
The book includes two inscriptions written on the inside that attest to its provenance. One is from Hannah Rentzer (Hirshfield's daughter) to her son, Robert Rentzer, dated 1972. The other is from Robert Rentzer to the American Folk Art Museum in 2022, gifting the book to the Museum. The book was immediately exhibited in the exhibition Morris Hirshfield Rediscovered (September 23-January 29, 2023).
Dates
- Publication: 1885
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research. Access to sensitive materials may be restricted at the discretion of AFAM.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is owned by the American Folk Art Museum. The collection is subject to all copyright laws, and is dedicated to public use for research, study and scholarship.
Biographical / Historical
A Jewish immigrant, tailor, and slipper manufacturer in Brooklyn who took up painting at the age of 65, Morris Hirshfield (1872–1946) attracted a great degree of attention during his brief career as an artist. His wildly stylized pictures of animals, landscapes, and often nude female figures were embraced by Picasso and Mondrian, among other members of the international avant-garde, collected by Peggy Guggenheim, and featured in a highly publicized solo show at The Museum of Modern Art in 1943.
Text from AFAM's 2022-2023 exhibition Morris Hirshfield Rediscovered.
Extent
1 object(s)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This late-nineteenth century copy of Our Living World was owned by artist Morris Hirshfield and used for source images of birds. The book contains scraps of scratch paper, some illustrated by the artist and inserted as bookmarks for pages of interest. In addition to its intrinsic connection to Hirshfield, this book provides critical insight into the artist’s process. As scholar Richard Meyer observes, Hirshfield does not copy the drawings contained in this book, but rather re-imagines them in his work, using contrasting colors and swirling patterns.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The book and its pages should be handled with care. Pages especially are brittle and easy to tear.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by the Rentzer Family in 2022.
Dimensions
13 x 12 x 4 inches
Processing Information
The book contained small paper book marks, presumably placed in the pages by Hirshfield. The original page numbers were recorded and the book marks removed and sleeved separately for preservation purposes.
Bookmarks were removed from the following pages: 174; 352-353; 412-413; 450-451; 466-467; 516-517; 538-539; 570-571; 604-605;
- Title
- A Guide to Morris Hirshfield's Illustrated Encyclopedia
- Author
- Regina Carra
- Date
- February 2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the American Folk Art Museum Archives Repository
47-29 32nd Place
Long Island City New York 11101 United States
(212) 595-9533
research@folkartmuseum.org