Al Hirschfeld facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albert Hirschfeld
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Hirschfeld in 2000
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| Born | June 21, 1903 |
| Died | January 20, 2003 (aged 99) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Education | Art Students League of New York |
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Albert Hirschfeld (born June 21, 1903 – died January 20, 2003) was a famous American caricaturist. He was best known for his amazing black and white drawings of celebrities and Broadway stars. His unique art style captured the spirit of the 20th century's biggest entertainers.
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His Early Life and Family
Albert Hirschfeld was born in 1903 in St. Louis, Missouri. When he was 12, his family moved to New York City in 1915. There, he studied art at the National Academy of Design.
He married Florence Ruth Hobby in 1927, but they later divorced. In 1943, he married actress Dolly Haas. They had one daughter, Nina, who was born in 1945. Dolly Haas passed away in 1994. In 1996, Albert Hirschfeld married Louise Kerz, a theatre historian.
Becoming a Famous Artist
In 1924, Hirschfeld traveled to Paris and London to study art. When he returned to the United States, a friend showed one of his drawings to an editor. This led to Hirschfeld getting jobs with the New York Herald Tribune and later The New York Times.
Hirschfeld's art style is very special and easy to recognize. He is seen as one of the most important artists in drawing and caricature. Many other artists have been inspired by his work. He mainly used black ink and a special pen called a crow quill for his drawings.
Most people know Hirschfeld's black ink drawings on white paper. However, he also created many colorful paintings. These were often used as covers for popular magazines like TV Guide, Life Magazine, and The New York Times Magazine. He also illustrated many books in color.
In 1963, CBS asked him to draw for a magazine about their new TV shows. One drawing was of Allen Funt, the host of Candid Camera. Funt was so upset by the drawing that he threatened to leave the network! Hirschfeld had to make a slightly different, more flattering drawing.
Drawing Broadway and Beyond
Albert Hirschfeld drew for over 80 years, capturing almost all the major entertainment figures of the 20th century. He became famous for drawing actors, singers, and dancers from Broadway plays. These drawings would often appear in The New York Times before a play opened.
Even though he is known for his theater drawings, Hirschfeld actually drew more for movies! When he was just 17, he worked as an art director at Selznick International Pictures. He also drew many original movie posters, including ones for Charlie Chaplin's films and The Wizard of Oz (1939).
His art even inspired a Disney film! The "Rhapsody in Blue" part in Fantasia 2000 was based on his designs. Hirschfeld even became a consultant for that part of the movie. The director, Eric Goldberg, was a big fan of his work. Goldberg also designed the Genie in Aladdin (1992) with Hirschfeld's style in mind.
Besides Broadway and film, Hirschfeld also drew politicians, TV stars, and other famous people. He drew jazz musicians like Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. He also drew rock stars like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Bruce Springsteen. In 1977, he drew the cover for Aerosmith's album Draw the Line.
The Hidden "NINA"
After his daughter Nina was born in 1945, Hirschfeld started a fun tradition. He would hide her name, "NINA," written in capital letters, in most of his drawings. You might find it in a sleeve, a hairstyle, or somewhere in the background.
The number of times "NINA" was hidden would be written next to his signature. If there was no number, it usually meant "NINA" appeared once, or the drawing was made before she was born.
At first, Hirschfeld hid "NINA" just for his friends. But soon, everyone started looking for it! When he tried to stop, people wrote letters to The New York Times asking him to start again. He said it was easier to hide the NINAs than to answer all the mail! Sometimes, he felt the "NINA" game overshadowed his amazing art.
In his 1966 book The World of Hirschfeld, he included a drawing called "Nina's Revenge." This drawing had no NINAs. Instead, it had two "ALs" and two "DOLLYs," which were the names of her parents. Even in the Fantasia 2000 film, a hidden "NINA" was included as a tribute to Hirschfeld.
Where His Art Appeared
Albert Hirschfeld contributed to The New York Times for over 70 years! His work also appeared in many other famous magazines. These included The New Yorker Magazine, TV Guide, Playbill, and Rolling Stone.
He also illustrated many books. In 1941, he created Harlem As Seen By Hirschfeld. His theater illustrations were published yearly in books like The Best Plays of ....
Hirschfeld also worked with humorist S. J. Perelman on several projects. In 1991, the United States Postal Service asked him to draw a series of postage stamps. These stamps honored famous American comedians like Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. He also drew silent film stars like Rudolph Valentino. The Postal Service even let him hide Nina's name in his stamp designs, even though they usually forbid hidden messages!
Awards and Tributes
You can find Hirschfeld's artwork in many important places. These include the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
He received two special Tony Awards for his lifetime achievements. On June 21, 2003, a Broadway theater was renamed the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in his honor. He also has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. In 2002, Albert Hirschfeld was given the National Medal of Arts, a very high honor for artists in the U.S.
His Passing
Albert Hirschfeld passed away peacefully at his home in Manhattan on January 20, 2003, at the age of 99. He left behind his daughter Nina and his wife, Louise Kerz.
See Also
- List of caricaturists
- List of TV Guide covers
