Marsden Hartley (1877-1943) is best known as an American modernist and pioneering artist of the early 20th century. But he was also a prolific writer who published dozens of essays and reviews and several volumes of poetry and prose. The autobiographical account of his life in the manuscript collection of Yale's Beinecke Library has often been consulted by scholars and curators writing about Hartley. It is a most revealing document about his personal life and relationships - both for its disclosures and omissions - but has never been published before. Transcribed from Hartley's own handwritten manuscripts, this edition is accompanied by photographs (some never before published), notes and an introduction discussing Hartley's fascination with autobiography in the context of his struggle with notions of self-representation in art. Susan Ryan also describes the circumstances surrounding the composition of "Somehow a Past", and explains the distinctions between this original version and two later ones also in the Beinecke Library. "Somehow a Past" is an historical document and a personal narrative. Although solitary, self-involved and saturnine, Hartley nevertheless knew nearly every figure of the international avant-garde in his day and unfolds his life largely through a chain of personal encounters. His traffic with such major literary and artistic figures as Alfred Stieglitz, Vasili Kandinski, Gertrude Stein, Mabel Dodge, Eugene O'Neill, Robert McAlmon and Charles Demuth is recorded as are his travels both domestic and foreign. Hartley drafted the text several times, truncating the description of his traumatic childhood, and leaving out any overt reference to his homosexuality. Yet there are moments of self-characterization and leit-motifs that commemorate his troubled youth.

Review

-- Barbara Haskell, Curator, Painting and Sculpture, Whitney Museum of American Art " As a writer, Hartley renders his life and the circumstances of his work with an often overblown drama, but it is precisely this drama that mirrors the physic mood underlying his character and, consequently, much of his art. While biographical information exists elsewhere, Hartley's own recounting of his story offers illuminations that transcend the factual. By making this self-view available to more than a handful of scholars, this book will enrich the field of early 20th century art history." -- Barbara Haskell, Curator, Painting and Sculpture, Whitney Museum of American Art & quot; As a writer, Hartley renders his life and the circumstances of his work with an often overblown drama, but it is precisely this drama that mirrors the physic mood underlying his character and, consequently, much of his art. While biographical information exists elsewhere, Hartley's own recounting of his story offers illuminations that transcend the factual. By making this self-view available to more than a handful of scholars, this book will enrich the field of early 20th century art history.& quot; -- Barbara Haskell, Curator, Painting and Sculpture, Whitney Museum of American Art "As a writer, Hartley renders his life and the circumstances of his work with an often overblown drama, but it is precisely this drama that mirrors the physic mood underlying his character and, consequently, much of his art. While biographical information exists elsewhere, Hartley's own recounting of his story offers illuminations that transcend the factual. By making this self-view available to more than a handful of scholars, this book will enrich the field of early 20th century art history."--Barbara Haskell, Curator, Painting and Sculpture, Whitney Museum of American Art

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Selling books for over thirty-five years, we are open by chance or appointment.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Association Member

Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

Studio Books
OR, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Books are promptly shipped upon receipt of payment and packed with care. Any book may be returned for any reason for full refund if notice is given within five days of receipt.

Right of withdrawal

If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

Information regarding the right of withdrawal

Statutory right to withdraw

You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.

Effects of withdrawal

If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Studio Books, Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of withdrawal

The right of withdrawal does not apply to:

The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.

Shipping Terms

Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	8 to 14 business days	3 to 6 business days
First item	� 2.79	� 11.16

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.