This book offers a rich introduction to the life and work of art dealer Berthe Weill—the risk-taking, rule-breaking facilitator of the modernist art movement in Paris.

This book and the accompanying traveling exhibition survey the groundbreaking career of Berthe Weill (1865–1951), the first female modern art dealer. She championed many fledgling masters of modern art from early in their careers—including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Amedeo Modigliani—as well as numerous other talented artists. Examining Weill’s contributions to the history of modernism as a gallerist, a passionate advocate of contemporary art, and a Jew, this book brings to light the remarkable achievements of a singular figure who overcame sexism and anti-Semitism in her quest to promote emerging artists.

The exhibition, co-organized by New York University’s Grey Art Museum, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Musée de l’Orangerie, features some eighty artworks that were originally displayed at her gallery during the first four decades of the twentieth century.

Lynn Gumpert's profile page

Marianne Le Morvan's profile page

Anne Grace is Curator of Modern Art at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Her past curatorial exhibition projects at the MMFA include Peintures barbares : hommage à Jean McEwen, Alexander Calder: Radical Inventor, In Memorium: Antoni Tàpies, Multiplicity: Post-War American Prints and Drawings from the Collection, and Van Dongen: Painting the Town Fauve. She has also been the curator responsible for the presentations at the MMFA of Lyonel Feininger: From Manhattan to the Bauhaus, Rouge Cabaret: The Terrifying and Beautiful World of Otto Dix, and From Van Gogh to Kandinsky: Expressionism in Germany and France, 1900-1914. Previous to her position at the MMFA, she worked at the National Gallery of Canada.

Anne Grace's profile page

Stéphane Aquin's profile page

Claire Bernardi's profile page

Robert Parker's profile page

Charles Dellheim's profile page

S.O.P.H.I.E. ELOY's profile page

K.I.R.S.T.E.N.P.A.I. BUICK's profile page

A.M.B.R.E. GAUTHIER's profile page

"Despite Weill’s obscurity, her influence was enormous. She was the first dealer to sell Picasso, an early champion of the Fauves and the first and only dealer to exhibit Amadeo Modigliani in his lifetime." — ANTIQUES AND THE ARTS WEEKLY

"Berthe Weill (1865-1951) promoted Matisse and Modigliani, and was Picasso’s first dealer. This overdue show will include many pieces that once hung in her gallery." — ARTDAILY.COM

"Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Suzanne Valadon and Raoul Dufy are just a few of the icons championed by Berthe Weill, the first woman modern art dealer. Weill, who maintained a gallery in Paris from 1901–1941, was an important yet overlooked figure in art history. Dedicated to promoting the work of emerging avant-garde artists, she fought sexism, antisemitism and fierce competition to become a major influence within 20th century art. Bringing together many works shown in her trailblazing gallery, an exhibition at New York University’s Grey Art Museum offers a portrait of Weill, but also provides a window into a period of radical innovation and creative transformation." — CHRISTIE'S