Pierre Bonnard, Edouard Vuillard, Albert York, and Emile Branchard in the Collection of Alan and Marilyn Bergman
The iconic and much-lauded American songwriting duo Alan and Marilyn Bergman brought the same harmony, point of view and personality to their art collection as they did to the music and lyrics they wrote for numerous celebrated film, stage and television productions.
While the works of fine art from the Collection of Alan and Marilyn Bergman were created on different continents and during varied time periods, thematically these works rely on the use of color and expression that was inherent to the practice of the French Nabis artists at the turn of the 20th century.
The Bergmans loved France and French art, so it is no wonder that they acquired paintings and works on paper by French artists. What makes the collection interesting is how the stylistic themes of the French works were also central to the work of the American artists whose works they added to their collection over many years of visiting with dealers Davis & Langdale in New York City. Favoring bold colors and a simplified use of line, Bonnard and Vuillard relied on a flat patches of color to create layered, decorative patterns in their work.
American painter Albert York, who worked on the East End of Long Island until his death in 2009, also focused his practice on the Nabis principles of flat color and conservation of line. Self-taught New York artist Emile Branchard painted in a similar style with a limited palette and flat, compact compositions. Through both York’s and Branchard’s work, we can see the artists looking back to the early 20th century while developing their own distinctive styles.
Of York, a scholar was quoted as saying that his work represented ‘the pursuit of lyric intensity while negotiating a point-blank confrontation with history.’ Lyricism through color and line is a constant theme in the Bergman collection, aligning their profession of song writing with their aesthetic interest in fine art to create a cohesive collection of art that truly represents who they were.
CATALOGUE ONLINE: Friday, March 27
GALLERY PREVIEW:
Friday, March 27: 9AM – 5PM
Saturday, March 28: Closed
Sunday, March 29: Closed
Monday, March 30: 9AM – 5PM
Tuesday, March 31: 9AM – 5PM
Wednesday, April 1: 9AM – 5PM
Thursday, April 2: 9AM – 5PM
Friday, April 3: 9AM – 5PM
Saturday, April 4: 11AM-5PM
Sunday, April 5: Closed
Monday, April 6: 9AM – 5PM
Tuesday, April 7: 9AM – 5PM
Wednesday, April 8: 9AM – 5PM