Paul Haviland
Encyclopedia
Paul Burty Haviland was an early French-American 20th century photographer, writer and arts critic who was closely associated with Alfred Stieglitz
and the Photo-Secession
.
, a well-known china manufacturer in Limoges, and his mother was the daughter of art critic Philippe Burty. His family was very wealthy for the time, and Haviland grew up surrounded by art, music and theater.
He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Paris, and from 1899-1902 went to graduate school at Harvard University. After graduating he worked from 1901-17 in New York as a representative of his father's china firm. He did so to please his father, but in reality he spent as little time as possible in his office.
In early 1908 he and his brother Frank, who was a photographer, went to see the exhibition of Rodin
drawings at the Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession, where he met Stieglitz. Both he and his brother bought works from the exhibit, and soon he and Stieglitz were engaged in long discussions about art and culture. Haviland considered the gallery "a unique oasis of cultivation" and soon spent most of his time there.
A few months later, Stieglitz told him the gallery was going to close because of a substantial increase in the rent, and without telling Stieglitz Haviland went to the landlord and signed a three-year lease for an even larger space directly across the hall. Stieglitz was so appreciative of Haviland's generosity that for the next decade the two were nearly inseparable friends and colleagues.
Beginning in 1909, Haviland began writing regular columns for Stieglitz's journal Camera Work
, and later that year one of his photographs was published in the magazine (Portrait – Miss G.G., No 28, October). A year later he was named Associate Editor. He also functioned as secretary of the gallery and helped organize many of the shows of French artists.
In 1912 Haviland won first prize in annual John Wanamaker Exhibition of Photographs in Philadelphia (judged by Stieglitz). A few months later six more of his photographs were published in Camera Work (No 39, 1912).
In 1913 Haviland co-authored, with Marius de Zayas
, one of the first extended essays on modern art, "A Study of the Modern Evolution of Plastic Expression (New York, 1913)."
In 1914 his brother Frank Burty had one-man show at Stieglitz's gallery, which by then was known as "291". Later that year two more of Haviland's photos were published in Camera Work (No 46).
In 1915 Haviland teamed up with two other people who had become regulars at "291", Agnes Ernest Meyer and de Zayas. They were frustrated with Stieglitz handling of artists at the time and felt the galley had become stuck in a rut. They proposed a new publication to help re-energize both Stieglitz and the gallery. Haviland soon became one of the driving forces and editors of a new and then radical magazine, also called 291
after the gallery. For the next year Haviland put much of his energy into editing and publishing the magazine with his co-workers.
In 1916 his father summoned him back to France to deal with the family business in Limoges. Due to his father's poor health he remained in France, and the next year he married Suzanne Lalique, daughter of famous art nouveau
glass designer René Lalique
.
While in France Haviland corresponded frequently with Stieglitz, but because of his new bride and his increasing involvement in the family's business he never returned to New York.
His father died in 1922 and for several years Haviland was completely absorbed by legal entanglements concerning the ownership of the business. The estate was finally settled in 1925, and afterward he used his share of the estate to purchase a 17th century priory. He turned the grounds into a vineyard and spent the rest of his life making wine and living as a gentleman farmer.
Havilland died at his estate in Yzeures-sur-Creuse
, France in 1950.
Alfred Stieglitz
Alfred Stieglitz was an American photographer and modern art promoter who was instrumental over his fifty-year career in making photography an accepted art form...
and the Photo-Secession
Photo-Secession
The Photo-Secession was an early 20th century movement that promoted photography as a fine art in general and photographic pictorialism in particular. A group of photographers, led by Alfred Stieglitz and F...
.
Life
Haviland was born to Charles Field and Madeleine Burty Haviland in Paris. His father owned Haviland & Co.Haviland & Co.
Haviland & Co. is a manufacturer of Limoges porcelain.-History:David Haviland was an American businessman from New York dealing with porcelain. While seeking out new business interests, he arrived in Limoges, France and by 1842, he was able to send his first shipment of Limoges porcelain to the...
, a well-known china manufacturer in Limoges, and his mother was the daughter of art critic Philippe Burty. His family was very wealthy for the time, and Haviland grew up surrounded by art, music and theater.
He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Paris, and from 1899-1902 went to graduate school at Harvard University. After graduating he worked from 1901-17 in New York as a representative of his father's china firm. He did so to please his father, but in reality he spent as little time as possible in his office.
In early 1908 he and his brother Frank, who was a photographer, went to see the exhibition of Rodin
Auguste Rodin
François-Auguste-René Rodin , known as Auguste Rodin , was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past...
drawings at the Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession, where he met Stieglitz. Both he and his brother bought works from the exhibit, and soon he and Stieglitz were engaged in long discussions about art and culture. Haviland considered the gallery "a unique oasis of cultivation" and soon spent most of his time there.
A few months later, Stieglitz told him the gallery was going to close because of a substantial increase in the rent, and without telling Stieglitz Haviland went to the landlord and signed a three-year lease for an even larger space directly across the hall. Stieglitz was so appreciative of Haviland's generosity that for the next decade the two were nearly inseparable friends and colleagues.
Beginning in 1909, Haviland began writing regular columns for Stieglitz's journal Camera Work
Camera Work
Camera Work was a quarterly photographic journal published by Alfred Stieglitz from 1903 to 1917. It is known for its many high-quality photogravures by some of the most important photographers in the world and its editorial purpose to establish photography as a fine art...
, and later that year one of his photographs was published in the magazine (Portrait – Miss G.G., No 28, October). A year later he was named Associate Editor. He also functioned as secretary of the gallery and helped organize many of the shows of French artists.
In 1912 Haviland won first prize in annual John Wanamaker Exhibition of Photographs in Philadelphia (judged by Stieglitz). A few months later six more of his photographs were published in Camera Work (No 39, 1912).
In 1913 Haviland co-authored, with Marius de Zayas
Marius de Zayas
Marius de Zayas Enriquez y Calmet , was an early 20th century Mexican artist, writer and art gallery owner who was influential in the New York arts circles of the 1910s and 1920s.-Life:...
, one of the first extended essays on modern art, "A Study of the Modern Evolution of Plastic Expression (New York, 1913)."
In 1914 his brother Frank Burty had one-man show at Stieglitz's gallery, which by then was known as "291". Later that year two more of Haviland's photos were published in Camera Work (No 46).
In 1915 Haviland teamed up with two other people who had become regulars at "291", Agnes Ernest Meyer and de Zayas. They were frustrated with Stieglitz handling of artists at the time and felt the galley had become stuck in a rut. They proposed a new publication to help re-energize both Stieglitz and the gallery. Haviland soon became one of the driving forces and editors of a new and then radical magazine, also called 291
291 (journal)
The arts and literary magazine 291 was published from 1915-1916 in New York City. It was created and published by a group of four individuals: photographer/modern art promoter Alfred Stieglitz, artist Marius de Zayas, art collector/socialite/poet Agnes Ernest Meyer and photographer/critic/arts...
after the gallery. For the next year Haviland put much of his energy into editing and publishing the magazine with his co-workers.
In 1916 his father summoned him back to France to deal with the family business in Limoges. Due to his father's poor health he remained in France, and the next year he married Suzanne Lalique, daughter of famous art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
glass designer René Lalique
René Lalique
René Jules Lalique was a French glass designer known for his creations of perfume bottles, vases, jewellery, chandeliers, clocks and automobile hood ornaments. He was born in the French village of Ay on 6 April 1860 and died 5 May 1945...
.
While in France Haviland corresponded frequently with Stieglitz, but because of his new bride and his increasing involvement in the family's business he never returned to New York.
His father died in 1922 and for several years Haviland was completely absorbed by legal entanglements concerning the ownership of the business. The estate was finally settled in 1925, and afterward he used his share of the estate to purchase a 17th century priory. He turned the grounds into a vineyard and spent the rest of his life making wine and living as a gentleman farmer.
Havilland died at his estate in Yzeures-sur-Creuse
Yzeures-sur-Creuse
Yzeures-sur-Creuse is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.This is one of the oldest villages in Touraine, occupation dating back to the Upper Paleolithic era more than 10,000 years before Christ. During Ancient history and the Merovingian dynasty, it had an important...
, France in 1950.