Description
Daniel Brustlein
French American, (1904-1996)
Untitled, 1990
oil on paper
signed lower right, blindstamp upper left.
Provenance: From a private collector, Indianapolis. From the Collection of Leon Constantiner; Camillos Kouros Gallery, NYC, gallery and collection labels verso, matted and framed under plexiglass.
Biographical timeline from ACME Fine Art:
1904?
Daniel Brustlein is born in the Alsatian town of Mulhouse, France (September 11).
c.1922
?Studies in Geneva (Ecole des Arts & Metiers and Ecole des Beaux Arts)
1924?
At the suggestion of a professor, Brustlein leaves Geneva for Paris where he continues his studies and finds work as an illustrator.
1925?
His illustrations are included in L'Exposition Internationale des arts decorative. This is Brustlein's first public exhibition of his work which opens in France and travels to Italy.
1927?
Moves to New York City at the encouragement of a school mate who has found a job for him as an illustrator, humorous cartoonist, and book cover designer.
1930?
Travels to Mexico and Guatemala.
1933?
Became a U.S. citizen.
c.1935? Brustlein's illustrations and cartoons begin appearing regularly in The New Yorker. His first cover for the magazine appears (November 9). Brustlein signs his work as Alain by which name he would become known for his cartoons. About this time Brusltein's illustrations begin also appearing regularly in Collier's a weekly magazine that had established a reputation as a proponent of social reform featuring writers such as Martha Gellhorn and Ernest Hemingway, who reported on the Spanish Civil War, and Winston Churchill, who wrote an account of the First World War before becoming a minister in the British government. Other writers included Willa Cather, Zane Grey, Ring Lardner and Sinclair Lewis among others.
"Farewell to Model T" (New York: GP Putnam's Sons, 1936)
1936?
Illustrates Farewell to Model T a nostalgic tribute by E.B. White (written under pseudonym Lee Strout White) for the writer's articles published in The New Yorker. The articles with Alain's illustrations are later published in book form by GP Putnam: Farewell to Model T with illustrations by Alain.
1940
Meets painter Janice Biala. The couple are active artists within the New York School associating and befriending artist Willem de Kooning (whose early career Brustlein would support), critic Harold Rosenberg, photographer Rudy Burckhardt, and writer Edwin Denby among others.
1942?
Brustlein participates in an Exhibition to Aid the Work of United China, at the Grand Central Art Galleries (NYC) winning First Prize (January). Exhibits in Cartoons Against the Axis organized by American Society of Magazine Cartoonists (January 17). Exhibits work in Cartoons of the Day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (May). Marries painter Janice Biala (July 11).
1943?
Brustlein and Biala host an informal wedding lunch at a downtown cafeteria for Elaine and Willem de Kooning following their marriage (Dec 9).
1947?
Returns to live in Paris with Biala. The couple reunite with old friends and build new friendships with artist including photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.
1948?
Begins exhibiting his paintings regularly at the Salon des Surindependants, in Paris.
1949?
Brustlein and Biala summer at Villefranche-sur-Mer (June to Sept). While there Biala spends a day with Matisse at his home (July 31) and later the couple meets again Picasso. In the fall, Brustlein is nominated to become a member of The Club at the insistence of Willem de Kooning.
c.1950?
Aspiring to fulfill his life's ambition to become a painter, Brusltein's illustrations and humors cartoons work slows. However, his drawings continue to appear in popular magazines including Saturday Evening Post and Look Magazine.
1951?
Brustlein and Biala rent for a time the Paris studio of Cartier-Bresson.
1952?
Reflecting Cold War politics, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (McCarran-Walter Act) is passed by United States Government. It requires Brustlein and Biala to return regularly to the United States in order to retain their American citizenship.
Brustelin's first one-person exhibition of paintings opens at Galerie Jeanne Bucher, Paris (Feb 1). Participates in Rythmes et Couleurs, at Musee Cantonal des Beaux-Arts: Lausanne, in Lausanne, Switzerland (June 20). Nominated as a candidate for the Prix de la Critique, held at Galerie Saint Placide, Paris, (July 5). Of his selection, French critic Charles Estienne writes: From Monet, one goes naturally to the youngest and best painting of today. After tasting the savor, so right and measured, of Brustlein... (L'Observateur, July 3, 1952).
Friendships continue to develop with European artists include among others Victor Bauer and Alberto Giacometti.
1953
Brustlein participates in the Second Annual Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, Stable Gallery (NYC) (January). Brustlein and Biala purchase a small farmhouse in Peapack, NJ.
1955?
Brustlein's first one-person exhibition opens in New York at the Stable Gallery (October 17).
1956?
Illustrates the children's book It's Spring, It's Spring by Janice Biala (New York: Whittlesey House). The?Elephant and the Flea is published (New York: Whittlesey House), written and illustrated by Alain.
1957?
Brustlein is one of thirty-one candidates for grants through the National Institute of Arts and Letters (March).
Invited to participate in Portraits at Tibor de Nagy Gallery (NYC) (May). Other artists include Willem de Kooning,?Franz Kline, Philip Guston, Mitlon Resnick, and Larry Rivers.
1958?
Begins exhibition regularly at L'Ecole de Paris, an annual exhibition with rotating venues.
1959
Exhibits portraits and landscapes in his second one-person exhibition at Stable Gallery (NYC) (March 16). Illustrates the children's book Minette by Janice Biala (New York: Whittlesey House).
1960?
Awarded the 5th Annual International Hallmark Prize. Exhibition of the competition held at Wildenstein Gallery (NYC) (October). Exhibition tours various national venues. His price winning painting is illustrated the cover of Art News.
1962?
Trois Artistes Americans de Paris: Daniel Brustlein, Shirley Goldfarb, Terry Hass, at Le Centre Culturel Americain (Paris) (May 9); exhibition traveled to Musee de Rennes (Rennes) (June 20-July 22).
1964?
Feature article on Brustlein, written by Jack Tworkov, titled Religious Art without God, appears in November issue of ARTnews. One-person exhibition opens at Saidenberg Gallery (NYC) (November 10).
1965
?Exhibits in Portraits from the American Art World, at New School Art Center (NYC) (February). Exhibition includes Milton Avery, Leonard Baskin, Alexander Calder, Willem de Kooning, Richard Diebenkorn, Arshile Gorky, Larry Rivers, George Segal, and Bradley Walker Tomlin.
1966?
Participates in Cinq Siecles de Dessin, at Galerie Lutece, Paris, (April 19-May 28). In addition to Brustlein, the exhibition included works by Bellmer, Feininger, Giacometti, Gris, Kandinsky, Ladoux, Man Ray, Marquet, Pagava, and Tobey.
1967?
Begins exhibiting regularly at Galerie Jacob, Paris.
1968?
Writes and illustrates the children's book One, Two, Three, Going to Sea (New York: Scholastic Paperbacks).
1975?
Brustlein and Biala visit Egypt and tour North Africa.
1978?
Begins exhibiting regularly with Gruenebaum Gallery (NYC). Critic Hilton Kramer reviews the show and explains, "In everything that Daniel Brustlein paints there is a sensibility of great refinement." (The New York Times, Friday, May 19, 1978)
1988?
One-person exhibition opens at Galerie Jeanne Bucher (Paris, France).
1990?
Brustlein's one-person exhibition opens at the Kouros Gallery (NYC).
1996
?Brustlein dies in Paris (July 14). His obituary appears in The New York Times calling him 'a painter's painter.'
