Pola Negri by Franz Geritz
Pola Negri
Franz Geritz
Title
Pola Negri
Artist
Franz Geritz
1895 - 1945 (biography)Year
1925
Technique
block print
Image Size
7 3/8 x 6 9/16" image
Signature
pencil signed, lower right
Edition Size
not stated
Annotations
pencil titled and dated
Reference
Paper
fine laid oriental paper
State
published
Publisher
artist
Inventory ID
12081
Price
$300.00
Description
Known primarily for his Arts and Crafts-era landscapes of California, Franz Geritz did several small, minimalist portraits of old Hollywood stars throughout his career, among them this simple portrait of silent film femme fatale, Pola Negri.
A Polish dancer and actor Negri came to the United States after Hollywood executives discovered her in Berlin around 1920, offering her a contract with Paramount Pictures. She was the first European woman to be signed to an American film contract and she quickly established herself as a leading tragedienne and sultry beauty. Here, Geritz presents the Art Deco-era star in a style befitting of the times, with the classic 1920s arched brow and her signature turban-style cloche.