Berthe Weill

“Make Way for the Young !” So, who exactly was Berthe Weill ? For forty years, from 1901 à 1941, this trailblazing and determined art dealer unstintingly exhibited works by fledgling artists in her Parisian gallery. A pioneer in many respects, she was the fist to sell early artworks by Picasso and Matisse, organized Modigliani's only solo exhibition to take place during his lifetime, championed emerging movements such as fauvism and cubism, and promoted the talent of numerous women artists, including Suzanne Valadon and Émilie Charmy. Yet her contributions to art history have been largely overshadowed by those of her male counterparts, such as Ambroise Vollard, Paul Rosenberg, and Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler. Recognizing Berthe Weill's vital role in the history of modernism, this volume recounts the story of an extraordinary gallery owner with a genuine passion for art, who, despire many obstacles, never ceased to defend “young painting.” “Academic painting sold so much better. Why persist in handling Jeunes ? Shouldn't I consider switching ? No ! I would rather eat bricks than do something I disliked. So there !” Berthe Weill, Pow ! Right in the Eye !