Object Details

Artist

Marius de Zayas, 1880 - 1961

Sitter

Agnes Elizabeth Ernst Meyer, 2 Jan 1887 - 1 Sep 1970

Exhibition Label

Born New York City

Agnes Ernst Meyer’s remarkable contributions first began as patron of the arts before she moved on to an esteemed career in journalism and social reform. As a close adviser to caricaturist Marius de Zayas and photographer/impresario Alfred Stieglitz, Meyer co-founded the landmark visual arts journal 291, named after Stieglitz’s renowned modernist art gallery. Meyer’s husband, Eugene Meyer, bought the Washington Post in the 1930s, which paved the way for Meyer to write stories about racial segregation in the army and the plight of the laboring class during World War II. Also during this time, Meyer spearheaded efforts to establish a cabinet-level appointee in health and education.

In this charcoal, de Zayas depicts Meyer with his characteristic cubist-based stylized line. While acknowledging Meyer’s great wealth by dressing her in ermine-trimmed hat and enormous matching muff, de Zayas abstracts her beauty to a sharp, appraising profile, thus presenting her as an individual of intellect and spirited energy.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; bequest of Katharine Graham

Date

c. 1910

Object number

NPG.2001.96

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Copyright

© Estate of Marius De Zayas

Type

Drawing

Medium

Charcoal over graphite on paper

Dimensions

Sheet: 60.8 x 48.6 cm (23 15/16 x 19 1/8")

Frame: 75.8 × 60.2 cm (29 13/16 × 23 11/16")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Location

Currently not on view

Data Source

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Costume\Headgear\Hat

Costume\Dress Accessory\Muff

Agnes Elizabeth Ernst Meyer: Female

Agnes Elizabeth Ernst Meyer: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Social reformer

Agnes Elizabeth Ernst Meyer: Arts and Culture\Journalism and Media\Journalist

Agnes Elizabeth Ernst Meyer: Arts and Culture\Patron of the arts

Agnes Elizabeth Ernst Meyer: Arts and Culture\Journalism and Media\Journalist\Reporter

Agnes Elizabeth Ernst Meyer: Social Welfare and Reform\Philanthropist

Agnes Elizabeth Ernst Meyer: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Political activist

Portrait

Metadata Usage

Usage conditions apply

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm462dd718a-29c5-48f2-8570-6bcb18ac3864

Record ID

npg_NPG.2001.96