Margaret Wise Brown

Object Details

Artist

Philippe Halsman, 02 May 1906 - 25 Jun 1979

Sitter

Margaret Wise Brown, 1910 - 1952

Exhibition Label

Born Brooklyn, New York

Margaret Wise Brown once mused, “The first great wonder at the world is big in me. That is why I write.” Brown’s work at the Bureau of Educational Experiments (now Bank Street College of Education) in New York City, an experimental academy dedicated to early childhood development, inspired her to write children’s books. Between 1937 and her death in 1952, she authored more than one hundred books, including such classics as The Runaway Bunny (1942), The Little Island (1946), and Goodnight Moon (1947). In her writings, which often use repetition of language, Brown evokes the poetry of Gertrude Stein, whom she greatly admired.

Philippe Halsman photographed Brown one year before Goodnight Moon was released and a few years after she began living with her life partner (playwright and actress Blanche Oelrichs). This portrait reveals Brown’s preference for handwriting her manuscripts using a quill pen.

Nacida en Brooklyn, Nueva York

Margaret Wise Brown explicó cierta vez: “Llevo en mí ese gran sentimiento original de asombro ante el mundo. Es por eso que escribo”. Brown trabajó en el Centro de Experimentos Educativos (hoy Colegio de Educación Bank Street) en Nueva York, una academia experimental dedicada al desarrollo de la niñez temprana, y esto la inspiró a escribir libros infantiles. Entre 1937 y su muerte en 1952, produjo más de 100 libros, incluidos clásicos como El conejito andarín (1942), La pequeña isla (1946) y Buenas noches, luna (1947). Con un estilo que recurre con frecuencia a la repetición, Brown evoca la poesía de Gertrude Stein, a quien admiraba.

Philippe Halsman fotografió a Brown un año antes de publicarse Buenas noches, luna y pocos años después de que esta empezara a convivir con su compañera de vida, la dramaturga y actriz Blanche Oelrichs. Este retrato revela su preferencia de escribir con una pluma de ave.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Steve Bello in memory of Jane Halsman Bello

1946

Object number

NPG.2004.42

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Copyright

© Philippe Halsman Archive

Type

Photograph

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Dimensions

Image: 19.3 x 24.3cm (7 5/8 x 9 9/16")

Sheet: 20.3 x 25.2cm (8 x 9 15/16")

Mat: 35.6 x 45.7cm (14 x 18")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair

Costume\Jewelry\Brooch

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Table

Interior\Domestic

Home Furnishings\Lighting Devices\Lamp

Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Writing implement\Pen\Quill

Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Inkstand

Costume\Dress Accessory\Feather

Home Furnishings\Telephone

Margaret Wise Brown: Female

Margaret Wise Brown: Literature\Writer\Children's book

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.2004.42

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm44f993338-7340-4a20-b184-e81c1dafd5d7