I hope Michael Schreiber will forgive my use of the cover of his excellent book for the opening page of my series on the life of Bernard Perlin. Born in Richmond, Virginia to Jewish immigrants, he was encouraged by a high school teacher to study art at the New York School of Design. He won awards there and a scholarship to study at The Art Student's League. Openly gay pretty much from the get-go, he soon moved among both the better and lesser known elements of the NYC gay scene. So today we will take a first look at the life of a truly remarkable man, with more series to follow. The photo below is by the great George Platt Lynes:
The Bar. One of the most haunting paintings. I would love to see it in person.
ReplyDeleteYes, haunting. I'd like to see it, too.
DeleteGPL had wide circle of friends and associates in the artistic and intellectual milieu of New York City.:) Not surprised the talented Perlin would be among them. All this after the war, and the stirrings of McCarthyism and increased censorship must have been stressful for all concerned.:(
DeleteAnd yet they persevered….:)
McCarthy was more obsessed with communists in the world of arts and entertainment than homosexuals, although he did go after gays in the foreign service, saying they could be blackmailed.
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