Martin Birnbaum (1878-1970) 1915

Editor: This is Albert Edward Sterner's portrait of Martin Birnbaum. It's a pencil drawing with a somber mood. How do you interpret this portrayal? Curator: Well, portraits are never just likenesses. Given Birnbaum’s role in championing modern art, might Sterner be subtly questioning the established artistic order through Birnbaum’s gaze? What does it mean to have the subject’s hand so prominently displayed in the foreground? Editor: Maybe it shows Birnbaum’s active role in shaping the art world? I hadn’t thought of the social aspect. Curator: Precisely! It encourages us to think about the subject's impact on art history, and the power dynamics inherent in representation.