Hirschfeld's Sondheim - by David Leopold (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This handsome volume presents 25 favorite Al Hirschfeld portraits drawn from Stephen Sondheim's musicals. The art prints in this oversize poster book can be easily removed and framed, making it an ideal gift for Sondheim fans.

This first volume in a series of deluxe Hirschfeld poster books contains art drawn from life before the opening night of each of Sondheim's productions. On the reverse side are rare, ancillary images from the archives, as well as an introduction by Bernadette Peters, an essay by Ben Brantley, and text by David Leopold, Hirschfeld's archivist and creative director of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation.

Hirschfeld's images capture the essence of the performances even better than the photographs of the shows. All of Sondheim's best-known plays are included--West Side Story, Follies, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, and Sunday in the Park with George.

Al Hirschfeld drew his first Sondheim show in 1957--West Side Story. In his iconic, illustrative style, Hirschfeld captured almost all of Sondheim's Broadway shows and several films featuring the composer's songs and scripts.

Sondheim was a Hirschfeld collector, acquiring drawings directly from the artist and through his friends and collaborators like Hal Prince. In his last interview just five days before his death on November 26, 2021, the New York Times ran a photo of Sondheim in his home with an image of Hirschfeld's Putting it Together in the background.

All images for this book have been scanned from the archives of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, ensuring the highest possible quality.

About the Author

Al Hirschfeld (1903-2003) was one of the most innovative efforts in establishing the visual language of modern art through caricature in the 20th century. A self-described "characterist," his signature work, defined by a linear calligraphic style, appeared in virtually every major publication of the last nine decades (including a 75-year relationship with the New York Times) as well as numerous book and record covers and 15 postage stamps. Just before his death in January 2003, he learned he was to be awarded the Medal of Arts from the National Endowment of the Arts and inducted into the Academy of Arts and Letters. The winner of two Tony Awards, Hirschfeld was given the ultimate Broadway accolade on what would have been his 100th birthday when the Martin Beck Theater was renamed the Al Hirschfeld Theater. David Leopold is an author and curator based in New York City who has organized exhibitions for institutions worldwide including the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, among others. As creative director of the nonprofit Al Hirschfeld Foundation, his books on Hirschfeld include The Hirschfeld Century: A Portrait of the Artist and His Age (2015) and The American Theatre as Seen by Hirschfeld 1962-2002. Online Hirschfeld exhibitions that Leopold organized during the pandemic won rave reviews from The New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. Leopold also co-hosts the Hirschfeld Century Podcast, nominated as "Best New York City Podcast" by the 2020 Apple Awards. His select other books include David Levine's American Presidents (2008); Irving Berlin's Show Business: Broadway-Hollywood-America, (Abrams, 2005, which was listed as a "Top Gift Pick" by the Boston Globe and the New York Times); and Hirschfeld's Hollywood (Abrams, 2001). He has also authored a number of monographs on underappreciated artists for various museums throughout the country.