Al Hirschfeld Drawings

Anyone who's lived in NY for the past half century (plus plenty of others) knows the line drawings of Al Hirschfeld, who recorded with his wry and astute pen persons from the world of theater and music and film, but mostly theater. Week afrer week, they would appear on the front page of the Sunday NY Times arts section, and bring to life people you wanted to "see" of that time. They were witty and sharp and went on seemingly without end. Hirschfeld lived almost a hundred years, and the NY Public Library has just opened an exhibit of his work in their Lincoln Center branch. I met Mr.Hirschfeld about 15 years ago and asked for his autograph to give to my niece Elissa who, growing up, would sit with me and search the artist's drawings in the Sunday paper, searching for the "Nina" (his daughter) whose name was always planted somewhere in the work. There is a plaque on the front of the house on 95th St. between Park and Lexington where Hirschfeld lived and worked. He famously drew in a barber's chair on the top floor, a chair part of the new exhibition. It's a wonderful exhibit at the library--joyous, nostalgic. Not to miss.