Abraham Rattner and Esther Gentle papers

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Abraham Rattner and Esther Gentle papers

1891-1986

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw98b38e43e-390b-4c78-9a1b-51b9d7ff2357

Abraham Rattner's papers provide insight into an important time for twentieth century American art and culture. By studying Rattner's papers, the researcher may view the beginnings of Modernism, the cultural change that pushed the boundaries of artistic and literary traditions and provided new ways in which to express ourselves.The Abraham Rattner and Esther Gentle papers measure 26.3 linear feet and date from 1891 through the 1980s. The collection documents Rattner's life and career as an artist through interviews, extensive correspondence, gallery files, studio notebooks, writings, notes, date books and diaries, photographs, and works of art.The biographical files contain documents such as Rattner's birth certificate, travel visas, his senior yearbook from 1912 which shows some of his early art work, and some of his awards. His birth certificate is of particular interest since it shows Rattner's birth date to be 1893 instead of the recognized 1895.The correspondence offers great insight into the thoughts of many American and European artists and writers during the 1930s and 1940s. Rattner, a prolific writer, expressed many of his own thoughts and concerns through his letters, many of which are included in this collection. The vast amount of correspondence include letters from notable figures such as George Biddle, Kay Boyle, Paul Burlin, Norman Carton, Robert Coates, Stuart Davis, Adolph Dehn, Richard de Rochemont, John Dos Passos, Xavier Gonzales, John Howard Griffin, Ramon Guthrie, Robert Gwathmey, Weeks Hall, Stanley W. Hayter, Jean Helion, Hilaire Hiler, Joseph Hirsch, Stefan Hirsch, Carl Holty, Louis Kronberg, Rico Lebrun, Jacques Lipchitz, Earle Ludgin, Thalia Wescott Malcolm, Henry Miller, Joan Miro, Bror Julius Olsson Nordfeldt, Channing Peake, Henry Varnum Poor, Felix Ruvolo, Waverly Root, Jack Gage Stark, Frank C. Watkins, and Allen Weller, among others.Rattner was engaged in a wide range of special art projects, and he kept detailed files on these projects. The projects spanned from 1940 through 1973 and included endeavors such as illustrations for <emph render="italic">Life</emph> magazine, stained-glass designs, mosaic and tapestry projects, as well as special paintings such as <emph render="italic">Victory--Jerusalem the Golden</emph> and <emph render="italic">The Gallows of Baghdad</emph>. Rattner's papers also detail the history of a fresco painted by Paul Gauguin entitled <emph render="italic">Joan d'Arc</emph>which Rattner purchased in France in 1925.Rattner's forty year friendship with the writer Henry Miller is chronicled throughout the collection in the forms of correspondence, writings, printed material, phototographs and artwork. Their correspondence ranges from 1938 through 1978 and offers great insight into their relationship. Rattner and Miller's road trip from New York to New Orleans in 1940-1941 is documented in the series entitled Special Projects. Also included in the collection are printed material, such as biographical material on Miller, Miller's writings, literary announcements and reviews; Miller's writings on Rattner; and photographs of Miller.The gallery files contain correspondence, receipts, and notes regarding the galleries which represented Rattner. Those galleries included the Rosenberg Gallery, the Downtown Gallery, and the Kennedy Gallery. A small series of exhibition files contain material about exhibitions held outside of Rattner's representative galleries.Rattner's writings proved to be an outlet for his thoughts on painting, his inspirations, frustrations, and sadness. In addition to painting, Rattner was able to express his creativity through writing poetry. Writing also helped him work through his depression over the death of his first wife Bettina Bedwell.He also kept finely detailed studio notebooks. The original order has been maintained, and they trace the history of almost each painting, drawing, and study attempted by Rattner. The notebooks often provide information regarding whether the work was sent to a gallery or given as a gift. Sometimes they contain correspondence or writings that reveal the inspiration for a work. They have been arranged in chronological order, according to Rattner's own filing system.Rattner retained receipts for most of his art expenses. Arranged by decade, these receipts show the type of paint, colors, types of paper and brushes that he used.Rattner also kept many household files and personal financial records. Household files contain insurance records, warranties and rental agreements, while the financial records contain returned checks and bank statements. Some bank statements from Esther Gentle Reproductions are also included. The household files and financial records are not filmed.The date books and diaries reveal the aspects of daily life and the personal thoughts of Rattner and Esther Gentle. In many cases, Rattner shared his date books and diaries with Gentle. The early diaries are fascinating, especially the 1939 diary that discloses the Rattners' last days in France before escaping Nazism and returning to the United States.Rettner's scrapbooks span from 1938 to 1952 and contain newspaper and magazine clippings that mention the artist or his work.The printed material covers a period from 1930s through the 1980s and includes exhibition catalogs, exhibition announcements, clippings, and miscellaneous material such as an autograph book from 1969 and a map of Israel that shows Rattner's travel route. There is a large amount of unfilmed printed material that is listed in the series description.Writings by others consists of writings on Rattner and other topics.The collection contains many photographs taken of Rattner and taken by him, as well as photos of family, friends, his studio, travels, and photographs of Rattner's art. Photographs of notable people include Henry Miller, Joan Miro, John Dos Passos, Archibald MacLeish, and Malcolm Cowley, among others.The amount of Rattner's art work included in the collection is small, but it is significant because it provides examples of his very early work, dating from 1912-1914. Some later studies are also present, as well as a number of random sketches. Color was very important to Rattner, and some of his color studies from the 1940s are also included. Art work by other artists is comprised of some small paintings by Max Weber, a water color by Henry Miller, a painting by Ken Buryd, as well as some work by unknown artists.In addition to tracing Rattner's life and career, the collection also documents the lives of Rattner's two wives, Bettina Bedwell and Esther Gentle. Both women had profound effects on Rattner's work. Among Bettina Bedwell's papers are her diary, fashion sketches, and correspondence. Esther Gentle's papers include correspondence, writings, as well as papers documenting her business Esther Gentle Reproductions. There are a small amount of papers relating to Allen Leepa, Rattner's stepson with Esther Gentle.<ref actuate="onLoad" show="embed" target="ref712" title="Index">See index for list of correspondents from various series.</ref>

Archives of American Art

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6630675

Archives of American Art

Related Entities

There are 49 Entities related to this resource.

Guthrie, Ramon, 1896-1973

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6m33x4j (person)

Guthrie was born in New York City in 1896, the son of Harry and Ella May Hollister Guthrie. He attended the Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Mass. from 1912 to 1915. During 1916 he worked in the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in New Haven, Conn. and taught in Newfane, Vt. In 1916 he joined the 10th Connecticut Field Artillery. He joined the United States Air Force in 1918. Later, in 1944-1945, he served in the Office of Strategic Services in North Africa and France. Guthrie taught at the Un...

Weller, Allen S. (Allen Stuart), 1907-1997

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f50djq (person)

Art historian, educator and director of the Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois. From the description of Allen Stuart Weller interview, 1992 May 1. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220203868 Weller, Allen Stuart, 1907, Art historian, educator and director of the Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois. From the description of Oral history interview with Allen Stuart Weller 1992 May 1. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 646399625 Allen S...

Paul Rosenberg & Co.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kd93tn (corporateBody)

Lipchitz, Jacques, 1891-1973

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63n2432 (person)

Jacques Lipchitz (1891-1973) was a Cubist sculptor. From the description of Jacques Lipchitz letter to Sidney Shainwald, 1953 Aug. 3. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 779477647 From the description of Jacques Lipchitz letter, 1953 Aug. 3. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 613316804 Lithuanian born sculptor who worked in France and the United States. From the description of Letters to Ladislas Segy, ca. 1961-1962. (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id...

Hirsch, Joseph, 1910-1981

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gb27zt (person)

Painter; New York, N.Y. From the description of Joseph Hirsch papers, 1932-1970. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122502546 Joseph Hirsch (1910-1981) was a painter and lithographer from New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Joseph Hirsch, 1970 Nov. 13-Dec. 2 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495596628 From the description of Oral history interview with Joseph Hirsch, 1970 Nov. 13-Dec. 2 [sound recording]. (Unkno...

Ruvolo, Feliz.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66b4r9s (person)

Peake, Channing, 1910-1989

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sx7x4w (person)

Lipchitz, Jacques, 1891-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p29zn7 (person)

Watkins, Franklin Chenault, 1894-1972

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rv15n7 (person)

Franklin Watkins (1894-1972) was a painter from Philadelphia, Pa. From the description of Oral history interview with Franklin Watkins, 1971 Aug. 18 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495596773 Painter; Philadelphia, Pa. From the description of Franklin C. Watkins papers, 1909-1973. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80156589 From the description of Franklin Watkins interview, 1971 Aug. 18. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220195954 ...

Coates, Robert M. (Robert Myron), 1897-1973

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cn7833 (person)

American writer and art critic. From the description of Papers of Robert Myron Coates [manuscript], [1933], 1954. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647993427 American novelist. From the description of Letter : Bayside, NY, to Mr. Mills, [194-?] June 25. (Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center (HRC); University of Texas at Austin). WorldCat record id: 122545950 Robert M. Coates was a writer and art critic. He was associated with the "New York...

Boyle, Kay, 1902-1992

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6q81d3s (person)

Kay Boyle (1902-1992) was an American avant garde writer and poet. She lived in San Francisco, Newark, Delaware, and Rowayton, Connecticut, when she wrote these letters. From the description of Kay Boyle letters and poems, 1935-1975. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 33890909 Kay Boyle was an American essayist, novelist, short-story writer, translator, essayist, and translator. From the description of Kay Boyle collection of papers, 1...

Gentle, Esther, 1900-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61v5z1p (person)

Miró, Joan, 1893-1983

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65c0rgj (person)

Spanish painter. From the description of Autograph letters signed (2) : Mallorca, to John Rewald, 1971 Dec. 26 and 1972 Oct. 22. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270871537 French painter. From the description of Aidez l'Espagne (poster), 1937. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 83814624 ...

Miller, Henry, 1891-1980.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tb16w7 (person)

Novelist. From the description of Papers, 1952-1957. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155457225 Henry Miller (1891-1980) was an American author. He was known for his experimental, surrealist novels, such as Tropic of Cancer, which mixed fiction and autobiography. His writing was controversial for its graphic depictions of sexuality, leading to a 1964 obscenity trial in the United States, Grove Press, Inc. v. Gerstein. From the guide to the Henry Miller Letter, unda...

Paul Rosenberg & Co.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f60sjm (corporateBody)

Holty, Carl, 1900-1973

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6q52sbt (person)

Carl Holty (1900-1973) was a painter and writer from New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Carl Holty, 1968 Sept. 25-Oct. 1 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495596637 Painter and writer; New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Carl Holty, 1965 June 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81548756 From the description of Oral history interviews with Carl Holty interviews, 1968 Sept. 25-Oct...

Weller, Allen Stuart 1907-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61s9r5t (person)

Carton, Norman, 1908-1980.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f7772q (person)

Painter and instructor; New York, N.Y. From the description of Norman Carton papers, 1949-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82844418 ...

Esther Gentle Reproductions.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68m4ft5 (corporateBody)

Rattner, Abraham

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6000ck0 (person)

Kramer is an assemblage artist and sculptor. Abraham Rattner (1895-1978) was a painter in New York, N.Y. His 2nd wife, Esther Gentle, was also a painter. From the description of Abraham and Esther Rattner letter to Helen Kroll Kramer, undated. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 77961303 Abraham Rattner (1893-1978) was a painter, mosaicist, and stained glass artist from Paris, France and New York, N.Y. Studied art and architecture...

Lebrun, Rico, 1900-1964

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pk0gz7 (person)

Rico (Frederico) Lebrun (1900–1964) was an Italian-born American painter, muralist, printmaker, illustrator and sculptor. From the guide to the Rico Lebrun Papers, 1957-1965, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries) Painter, teacher; Los Angeles, Calif. Born in Naples, Italy, Lebrun studied at the Beaux-Arts Academy and the Academy of Arts and National Technical Institute in Naples, assisting fresco painters between 1918 a...

Kronberg, Louis, 1872-1965

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66t8h6w (person)

Biddle, George, 1885-1973

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sq91hr (person)

George Biddle was an author and a widely exhibited artist who also contributed to national magazines. He died in 1973. From the description of Business and personal papers, 1929-1943. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 122573566 B. 1885 d. 1973. From the description of George Biddle artist file. (Whitney Museum of American Art). WorldCat record id: 228433040 American artist and Chairman, War Department Art Advisory Committee. From the ...

De Rochemont, Richard

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61g2p91 (person)

Richard De Rochemont (1903-1982) was a motion picture director and producer during the twentieth century. Born in Boston, Massachusetts and educated at Harvard University, De Rochemont started his motion picture career as a foreign editor for Fox-Movietone News (1930-1934). He joined Time Incorporated's "March of Time" film series, produced by Richard's brother Louis De Rochemont, in 1934 and enjoyed a notable career with this newsreel series, serving as European correspondent and managing direc...

Davis, Stuart, 1892-1964

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6g44sw7 (person)

Stuart Davis (1892-1964) was a painter and teacher, from New York. From the description of Stuart Davis correspondence with Francis Henry Taylor, 1940. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 756821083 Painter; New York, N.Y. Birthdate also cited as 1894. From the description of Stuart Davis interview, 1962 May-June. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220202540 Painter and teacher, New York. From the description of Stuart Davis correspondence with Francis...

Peake, Channing, 1910-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jr41kx (person)

Hirsch, Joseph, 1910-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vq6cd1 (person)

Kennedy Galleries.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tt9dqb (corporateBody)

Established 1874, New York, N.Y.; specializes in American art. From the description of Kennedy Galleries miscellaneous records, 1864- [ca. 1980]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84651029 ...

Malcolm, Thalia Westcott, b. 1878.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64c0njw (person)

Ruvolo, Feliz

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6138t6t (person)

Nordfeldt, Bror Julius Olsson, 1878-1955

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61z57vs (person)

Painter, etcher, block printer, engraver, lithographer, watercolorist, teacher; Santa Fe, N.M. and Lambertville, N.J. Born in Tullstorp, Scania, Sweden, and came to the United States in 1891. Taught at the Minneapolis School of Art and the University of Texas. Moved to Lambertville, N.J. in 1937 from Santa Fe, N.M. From the description of Bror Julius Olsson (B.J.O.) Nordfeldt papers, 1909-1989. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122594536 ...

Downtown Gallery (New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j42rdd (corporateBody)

Art gallery; New York, N.Y.; Owned by Edith Gregor Halpert. Established as Our Gallery in 1926 by Edith Gregor Halpert and Berthe Kroll Goldsmith for the purpose of promoting modern American art. Downtown Gallery was an early promoter of American folk art. The gallery name changed to Downtown Gallery in 1927, and Halpert became its sole owner in 1935. Subsidiary galleries operated by Downtown Gallery on its premises were: The Daylight Gallery (opened 1930), American Folk...

Gwathmey, Robert, 1903-1988

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vt22w3 (person)

Robert Gwathmey (1903-1988) was a painter from Amagansett, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Robert Gwathmey, 1968 Mar. 5 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495595178 Painter, serigrapher, teacher; New York, N.Y. From the description of Robert Gwathmey writings, [ca. 1960]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122455814 Painter; Amagansett, N.Y. From the description of Robert Gwathmey interview, 1968 Mar. 5. (U...

Hiler, Hilaire, 1898-1966

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6640jk9 (person)

Hilaire Hiler, painter, costume and set designer, muralist, musician, writer and psychologist was born Hiler Harzberg in St. Paul, Minn. Lived in various places in the United States including Santa Fe, N.M.; also lived in Paris, France where he died in 1966. From the description of Papers, 1849-1966; (bulk 1920-1940). (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 33849956 Mural painter, designer, decorator, writer. From the description of Hilaire Hi...

Guthrie, Ramon, 1896-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dp75np (person)

Dos Passos, John, 1896-1970

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bv7dsg (person)

American novelist. From the description of One Man's Initiation, 1917, 1968-1969. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63937079 American author, From the description of State of the nation [manuscript], 1944. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647807708 American author. From the description of Screenplay by John Dos Passos [manuscript], 1934 October 15. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647830975 F...

Hall, William Weeks, 1894-1958

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68s55zr (person)

Bedwell, Bettina, 1889-1947.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6km70m1 (person)

Poor, Henry Varnum, 1887-1970

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6np2636 (person)

Also contains correspondence from Bessie Breuer Poor, wife of Henry Varnum Poor. From the description of Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1929-1939. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 155893302 Henry Varnum Poor, painter and ceramic artist, earned his A.B. in graphic arts at Stanford University in May 1910. As a student he was a member of the Art Club and the Gym Club, on the varsity track team, and on the executive committee of the associated stu...

Gonzalez, Xavier, 1898-1993

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qv4mpw (person)

Painter, sculptor, teacher;New York, N.Y. and Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Died 1993. Born in Almeria, Spain. Became a United States citizen. Taught at Tulane University, the Brooklyn Museum, Art Students League, N.Y.C., and the Summer School of Art, Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Has done mural commissions in Alabama, Texas, and Louisiana. From the description of Xavier Gonzalez papers, 1905-1970. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84451759 ...

Dehn, Adolf, 1895-1968

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s46pv3 (person)

Painter, printmaker; New York, N.Y. From the description of Adolf Dehn letters, [ca. 1932-1987]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122355167 Painter, lithographer (New York, N.Y.). From the description of Adolf Dehn interviews, 1963 Jan. 23-1964 Feb. 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220179288 Artist; was a concientious objector in World War I, performed alternative service at Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, S.C., the bulk of this correspondence was written d...

Griffin, John Howard, 1920-1980

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xh04qf (person)

American writer, social critic, journalist, and humanitarian. From the description of Collection, 1952-1980. (Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center (HRC); University of Texas at Austin). WorldCat record id: 122632950 John Howard Griffin, born June 16, 1920, in Dallas, Texas, was a writer, journalist, humanitiarian, and social critic. Griffin was educated at the Institute de Tours, the University of Poitiers, and the Conservatory of Fontainbleau, all in France....

Ludgin, Earle, 1898-1981

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6th9vtz (person)

Collectors; Chicago, Illinois. Earle Ludgin, an advertising executive, and his wife Mary, began collecting art in the early 1930's and continued for almost 50 years, amassing an important contemporary American art collection. From the description of Earle and Mary Ludgin papers, 1930-1983. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122552490 ...

Hirsch, Stefan, 1899-1964

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6wq0vqw (person)

Artists, art educators, journalist; Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. From the description of Stefan Hirsch and Elsa Rogo papers, 1926-1985. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80347613 ...

Leepa, Allen, 1919-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cr6m10 (person)

Allen Leepa (1919-2009) was a painter and educator from New York, N.Y., Michigan, and Florida. From the description of Oral history interview with Allen Leepa, 1977 Nov. 18-1978 Nov. 29 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 613315606 Painter, educator; New York, N.Y., Michigan, and Florida. From the description of Allen Leepa interview, 1977 Nov. 18-1978 Nov. 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220187543 ...

Hayter, Stanley William, 1901-1988

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62v332b (person)

Printmaker, died in 1988. From the description of Stanley William Hayter interview, 1971 Mar. 11. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220178377 Stanley William Hayter (1901-1988) was a printmaker from Paris, France. From the description of Oral history interview with Stanley William Hayter, 1971 Mar. 11 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495595039 ...

Hélion, Jean, 1904-1987

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66974v9 (person)

Jean Hélion (April 21, 1904 – October 27, 1987) was a French painter whose abstract work of the 1930s established him as a leading modernist. His midcareer rejection of abstraction was followed by nearly five decades as a figurative painter. https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/30/obituaries/jean-helion-abstract-and-representational-artist.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Hélion...

Stark, Jack Gage, 1882-1950.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61z54f5 (person)

Burlin, Paul, 1886-1969

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ns1cjr (person)

Painter; New York, N.Y. From the description of Paul Burlin interviews, 1962. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220185199 From the description of Paul Burlin interview, 1965. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220185174 From the description of Oral history interview with Paul Burlin, 1962 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 312024996 Landscape, mural, and figure painter; New York, N.Y. Spent much time in the Southwest, partic...