Lillian Hellman

Object Details

Date
1947
Artist
Irving Penn, 16 Jun 1917 - 7 Oct 2009
Sitter
Lillian Hellman, 20 Jun 1905 - 30 Jun 1984
Exhibition Label
Born New Orleans, Louisiana
Lillian Hellman was regarded as one of the most important playwrights of her time. In 1934, she experienced her first theatrical success with the Broadway production of The Children’s Hour, and her greatest triumph came in 1939 with the initial staging of The Little Foxes. Unlike many plays that become dated over time, this carefully crafted tale of family greed has garnered enduring critical respect.
In the 1950s, Hellman was investigated for potential links to the Communist Party. Though willing to speak about her own beliefs, she refused to potentially hurt “innocent people . . . in order to save” herself. She famously wrote, “I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year’s fashion.” In later years, Hellman turned to writing her memoirs, which, though not scrupulously truthful, elicited some of the best reviews she ever received.
Nacida en Nueva Orleans, Luisiana
Lillian Hellman figura entre las dramaturgas más importantes de su época. En 1934 tuvo su primer éxito teatral con la producción en Broadway de La calumnia, y su mayor triunfo ocurrió en 1939 con el estreno de La loba. Si bien muchas obras pierden vigencia con el tiempo, esta historia cuidadosamente construida en torno al tema de la avaricia familiar sigue siendo respetada por la crítica.
En la década de 1950, Hellman fue investigada por posibles vínculos con el Partido Comunista. Aunque estaba dispuesta a hablar de sus opiniones personales, se negó a causar daño a “personas inocentes […] para salvarse” ella. Hay una cita famosa suya: “No puedo ni quiero retocar mi conciencia según la moda de este año”. Más tarde se dedicó a escribir sus memorias, que aunque no son verídicas al pie de la letra, se encuentran entre sus obras mejor recibidas por la crítica.
Topic
Interior\Studio
Lillian Hellman: Female
Lillian Hellman: Literature\Writer
Lillian Hellman: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Teacher
Lillian Hellman: Literature\Writer\Playwright
Lillian Hellman: Literature\Writer\Screenwriter
Lillian Hellman: Literature\Literary critic
Lillian Hellman: Performing Arts\Scenarist
Portrait
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Object number
NPG.90.122
Type
Photograph
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© 1984 Irving Penn
Medium
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions
Image/Sheet: 17.9 × 19.2 cm (7 1/16 × 7 9/16")
Mount: 38 × 27.6 cm (14 15/16 × 10 7/8")
Mat: 55.9 × 40.6 cm (22 × 16")
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm46ebc0f63-9945-4ffc-ad1c-7719b765d55c
Record ID
npg_NPG.90.122