Dear Sophie -
The Americans GERTRUDE STEIN and ALICE B. TOKLAS hosted a dynamic salon at their home in Paris up until the war. With her brother LEO STEIN, Gertrude amassed a formidable collection of paintings collecting the likes of PICASSO and MATISSE. Although both born in California, they met in France, and their love for one another was immediate and lifelong.
GERTRUDE was adventurous and forward thinking with her writing as well as her dress, her taste and opinions. ALICE was quiet, a great chef and Gertrude's muse.
Despite their mutually semitic heritage, they survived the war in France as collaborationists, marring their place in history.
With love,
Mom