Theresa Bernstein

Theresa Bernstein (1890–2002)
Born in Cracow, Poland, an infant Theresa Ferber Bernstein with her parents immigrated to the United State to live in Philadelphia.  Her artistic training was at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (now Moore College of Art) and the Art Students League in New York City after moving there in 1911. Often misrepresented as an Ashcan artist, hopefully art historian Elsie Heung has put this mistake to rest. “Bernstein’s urban vision has a distinct quality to it that operates both within and independently of the Ashcan School. It is only when we challenge her frequent misidentification as an Ashcan painter that we can begin to recognize her as a unique artist in her own right, rather than as a follower of her male contemporaries.” Elsie Heung, Gail Levin, Theresa Bernstein A Century in Art, pages 91 and 92. 2013. New York City was her home from 1911 until her death. She married artist William Meyerowitz in 1919.

Bernstein chronicled urban life in America on canvas for at least 70 years. Her ready response to comments on her change of style was “I didn’t change, the times did.” 

The changing times are seen in her paintings In the Elevated, Evening Stroll and her war paintings in the teens; Five Points Laundry Day and Lil Hardin and Louis Armstrong in the 1920s; Madison Square Garden Circus in the 1930s; Madison Square Garden Concert in the 1940s; Judy Garland in the 1950s; Hippies in Central Park in the l960s; Ticket Line in the 1970s; and Smoochathon and Break Dancers in the 1980s. 

Bernstein and husband Meyerowitz traveled to Israel almost annually from 1952 until his death in 1981. Her painting Israeli Wedding captures the constant vigilance required in that nation.  See the soldier standing guard on the right. 

Bernstein returned to their home in Gloucester, Massachusetts summers after Meyerowitz death in 1981 until the late 1990s.

96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Lil Hardin and Louis Armstrong, ca. 1927, Oil on canvas, 27x30 inches
Reproduced 21st Century: Sharyn R. Udall, Sensory Crossovers, Synesthesia in American Art, 2010, p. 76; Levin, Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art, p. 57.
Exhibited in 21st century—The Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM in 2010;Burchfield Penney Art Center, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY 2011; City University of NY, the James Gallery, Nov. 2013–January 2014; Phillips Museum, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 2014; Endicott College Museum, Beverly, MA 2014; Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA 2014; Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL. 2014–15.

96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Katie, ca. 1913, Oil on canvas, 26x22 inches

96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Hawthorne Lane, Gloucester, 1917, Oil on canvas, 35x27 inches

Minstrels , 1910, Oil on canvas, 18x22 inches

Minstrels, 1910, Oil on canvas, 18x22 inches

Tuchhalle , Kracow, 1922, Oil and pen on board

Tuchhalle, Kracow, 1922, Oil and pen on board

Music on the Shore , d. 1919–22, Oil on canvas, 27x35 inches Reproduced 21st Century: Levin, Patricia Burnham,  Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art   p. 135

Music on the Shore, d. 1919–22, Oil on canvas, 27x35 inches
Reproduced 21st Century: Levin, Patricia Burnham, Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art  p. 135

96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Baby Carriages Laundry Day, Park Slope Brooklyn, ca. 1923, Oil on canvas, 36¼x43¼ inches
Reproduced in 21st Century:  Levin, Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art, p. 51
Exhibited in 21st Century: City University of NY, the James Gallery Nov. 2013–
January 2014; Phillips Museum, Franklin & Matshall College, Landcaster, PA 2014; Endicott College Museum, Beverly, MA; 2014; Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA 2014; Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Faton. FL 2014–2015.
Bernstein and Meyerowitz' only child, Isadora, at age of only 3 months and 12 days died of pneumonia.  Bernstein was unable to have more children.  "The theme (of Baby Carriages Laundry Day, Park Slope Brooklyn) expresses Bernstein's empathy for the many chores of mothers of young children, is especially poignant considering her own loss."  Gail Levin, Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art page 52. ---   Bernstein's expression with paint on canvas in Baby Carriages of her and William's loss and her insight of a future without children are haunting.

96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Gloucester at Twilight, 1916–29, Oil on canvas, 27x35 inches
There was a Gloucester spectacular sunset Bernstein saw in 1929 and she rushed to record it.  She couldn’t find a blank canvas so grabbed an earlier 1916 work and painted over it.

Swing , 1930’s, Oil on board, 20x25 inches

Swing, 1930’s, Oil on board, 20x25 inches

Stage Fort Park , Gloucester, ca. 1930, 27x35 inches

Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, ca. 1930, 27x35 inches

Still Life with White Pitcher , 1933, Oil on canvas, 30x25 inches. Reproduced 21st Century:  Kyrie O'Connor, Houston Chronicle , Applause for Child Advocates , Section E, pages 1 and 2.

Still Life with White Pitcher, 1933, Oil on canvas, 30x25 inches. Reproduced 21st Century:  Kyrie O'Connor, Houston Chronicle, Applause for Child Advocates, Section E, pages 1 and 2.

Madison Square Garden Concert , ca. 1942, Oil on canvas, 27x32 inches

Madison Square Garden Concert, ca. 1942, Oil on canvas, 27x32 inches

J.S. Bach Still Life , ca. 1950, Oil on canvas, 40x30 inches   

J.S. Bach Still Life, ca. 1950, Oil on canvas, 40x30 inches

  

Boston Tea , ca. 1960, Oil on canvas, 30x25 inches Reproduced:  Levin, Burnham, Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art , p. 139

Boston Tea, ca. 1960, Oil on canvas, 30x25 inches
Reproduced:  Levin, Burnham, Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art, p. 139

Hippies Central Park , 1968, Oil on cloth relined on canvas, 25x30 inches

Hippies Central Park, 1968, Oil on cloth relined on canvas, 25x30 inches

Seagull Still Life , ca. 1965, Oil on canvas, 30x25 inches

Seagull Still Life, ca. 1965, Oil on canvas, 30x25 inches

Horn Player , 1926, Oil on board, 11½x9 inches

Horn Player, 1926, Oil on board, 11½x9 inches

Ticket Line , 1970’s, Oil on canvas, 25x30 inches

Ticket Line, 1970’s, Oil on canvas, 25x30 inches

Bix Beiderbecke, 1930. 12X4 inches oil on canvas

Bix Beiderbecke, 1930. 12X4 inches oil on canvas

Madison Square Garden Circus , ca. 1936, Oil on canvas, 28x35½ inches Reproduced:  Levin, Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art , p. 185

Madison Square Garden Circus, ca. 1936, Oil on canvas, 28x35½ inches Reproduced:  Levin, Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art, p. 185

Basketball , 1980s, Oil on canvas, 35x27 inches

Basketball, 1980s, Oil on canvas, 35x27 inches

Tulips , 1925, oil on canvas, 25 x 20½ inches

Tulips, 1925, oil on canvas, 25 x 20½ inches

96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Little Girl, 1920, Monotype, 8¾ x7¼ inches

96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

New York Street, ca. 1924, Monotype, 9¾x8 inches
Exhibited 1948 Smithsonian Institution U.S. National Museum, Washington, D.C.
Exhibition of Etchings and monotypes by Theresa F. Bernstein
Reproduced in exhibition brochure

96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

After the Storm, 1925, Monotype, 8x9¾ inch (ghost)

Mt. Pleasant Ave., Gloucester , 1925, Monotype, 10½x7¾ inches

Mt. Pleasant Ave., Gloucester, 1925, Monotype, 10½x7¾ inches

Beach , 1930s, Monotype, 7¾x8¾ inches

Beach, 1930s, Monotype, 7¾x8¾ inches

Blessing the Fleet , 1930s, Monotype, 8x9¾ inches

Blessing the Fleet, 1930s, Monotype, 8x9¾ inches

 Fish Tales , 1930s, Monotype, 7¾ x 8¾ inches

 Fish Tales, 1930s, Monotype, 7¾ x 8¾ inches

Cape Ann Beach , 1930s, Monotype, 8x11½ inches

Cape Ann Beach, 1930s, Monotype, 8x11½ inches

Couple in Central Park , 1943, Monotype, 7¼ x 5¾ inches

Couple in Central Park, 1943, Monotype, 7¼ x 5¾ inches

American Eagle , 1945, Monotype, 9¾x7¾ inches

American Eagle, 1945, Monotype, 9¾x7¾ inches

Children on the Docks , 1930s, Monotype, 11¼x8¾ inches

Children on the Docks, 1930s, Monotype, 11¼x8¾ inches

Hot Time , 1950s, Monotype, 8½x10½ inches Reproduced in 21st Century:  Levin, Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art , Stephanie Hackett, Impressions , Theresa Bernstein as Printmaker p. 165.

Hot Time, 1950s, Monotype, 8½x10½ inches
Reproduced in 21st Century:  Levin, Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art, Stephanie Hackett, Impressions, Theresa Bernstein as Printmaker p. 165.

Smoochathon , 1983, Manhattan, Oil on canvas, 25x30 inches Bernstein frequently walked Columbus Avenue. In the 1980s she eyed a window display for several days—couples kissing the day long—in a lingerie shop. Although her eyesight was failing she h

Smoochathon, 1983, Manhattan, Oil on canvas, 25x30 inches
Bernstein frequently walked Columbus Avenue. In the 1980s she eyed a window display for several days—couples kissing the day long—in a lingerie shop. Although her eyesight was failing she had to capture this, one of her last urban scenes.

The Net Menders , ca. 1920, Etching, 7¼ x 9¼ Image reproduced Gail Levin’s Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art p. 95

The Net Menders, ca. 1920, Etching, 7¼ x 9¼
Image reproduced Gail Levin’s Theresa Bernstein, A Century in Art p. 95

Hands , d. 11/23/13, Charcoal Drawing on paper, 23x17 inches

Hands, d. 11/23/13, Charcoal Drawing on paper, 23x17 inches

Mrs. Andrews , 1921, Etching, 9¾x7¾ inches

Mrs. Andrews, 1921, Etching, 9¾x7¾ inches

For more information on Theresa Bernstein, go to http://theresabernstein.newmedialab.cuny.edu . For a comprehensive review of CUNY's Professor Gail Levin and her graduate students' three year efforts in mounting the exhibition Theresa Bernstein A

For more information on Theresa Bernstein, go to http://theresabernstein.newmedialab.cuny.edu.
For a comprehensive review of CUNY's Professor Gail Levin and her graduate students' three year efforts in mounting the exhibition Theresa Bernstein A Century in Art especially read Regina Weinreich in The Forward December 27, 2013 by pressing ABOUT, then RECENT PRESS in that CUNY website.

Art Essay: Theresa Bernstein, a Docent's Perspective
By Benedict Duffy ©2015
ART TIMES Spring 2015
http://arttimesjournal.com/art/Art_Essays/spring_15_benedict_duffy/theresa_bernstein.html