Al Hirschfeld, 1903-2003: NYC Loses a Landmark

The prolific and whimsical artist Al Hirschfeld passed away on January 20, 2003. His distinctive black-and-white caricatures captured the passions and eccentricities of theater personalities for over 75 years. According to his obituary in The New York Times, Hirschfeld is thought to have attended more theatrical productions in the 20th century than anyone else. He frequented rehearsals and opening nights, and many of his subjects, including the Marx Brothers, were his personal friends. Hirschfeld was a consistent contributor to the drama pages of The New York Times, and his work is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, and the Art Museum in St. Louis, where Hirschfeld was born. The Margo Feiden Galleries, who represented Hirschfeld for over 25 years, once estimated that at least 7,000 original works by the artist have been preserved throughout his career. In 1996, Hirschfeld was named a New York City Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy. Al Hirschfeld died in his sleep at his home in Manhattan. He was 99 years old.