In 1913, the German artist Winold Reiss arrived on American shores with aspirations common to many immigrants: he was in search of the opportunity to have a better life. But unlike the countless others that reached the United States in the early 20th century, Reiss was bringing an artistic revolution with him. A force for the modernism that was thriving in Germany at the time, Reiss was destined to make a deep and lasting impact on the shape of American art, showcasing his talents in realms as varied as restaurant interiors, advertising, metalwork, portraiture, fashion and furniture.
Reiss is the subject of a new show at the New-York Historical Society that aims to resurrect his legacy and put him back on the map as the force that he was. “I want to show the public the extent of Winold’s life,” said the show’s co-curator Marilyn Kushner. “To make people recognize that he’s an important part of the canon.” To that end it has convened a major re-entry for Reiss, with an exhibit of 150 pieces that begins to lay out the full breadth of the man’s immense talents and prodigious output.
