Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Paul Bodin Papers, 1932-1981, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.bodipaul
Creators:
Bodin, Paul, 1910-1994
Dates:
1932-1981
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear feet
Repository:
The collection measures 0.2 linear feet, dates from 1932 to 1981 (bulk dates 1932-1963), and primarily documents the friendship of painter Paul Bodin with abstract expressionist painter Adolph Gottlieb. Found within the papers are letters from Gottlieb; printed material; and photographs of Bodin's art work.

Scope and Content Note

Scope and Content Note
The papers of painter Paul Bodin measure 0.2 linear feet and date from 1932-1981 (bulk dates 1932-1963). Found within the papers are letters from Bodin's mentor, abstract expressionist Adolph Gottlieb. These letters document Bodin's long friendship with Gottlieb and provide details about Gottlieb's activities and interests. There is one letter from Gottlieb's wife, Esther. Also found with the papers are a clipping, exhibition announcements for Bodin, and photographs of Bodin's art work.

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
Paul Bodin was born in New York City on October 30, 1910. He studied first at the National Academy of Design, but transferred to the Art Students League in 1928, briefly studying under Boardman Robinson.
During the 1930s and early 1940s, Bodin was part of a circle of artists that included Milton Avery, Mark Rothko, and Adolph Gottlieb, who worked in New York City, and Gloucester and Provincetown, Massachusetts. During the Depression, Bodin worked with the WPA Federal Arts Project, completing many paintings of tenement interiors, portraits of family members, and self-portraits. His first solo exhibition was in 1936.
He made his first abstract paintings in 1945 and exhibited regularly in Manhattan until the early 1960s.
Paul Bodin died on February 15, 1994.

Administration

Author
Jean Fitzgerald
Provenance
The Paul Bodin papers were donated in 1993 by Paul Bodin and Aaron Bodin, the artist's son.
Processing Information
The papers were processed in November 2005 by Jean Fitzgerald.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access
The collection is open for research. Use requires an appointment.
Terms of Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Preferred Citation
Paul Bodin papers, 1932-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Abstract expressionism Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gottlieb, Adolph, 1903-1974 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gottlieb, Esther Dick Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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