Gertrude Stein was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in 1874. She moved to Paris at the beginning of the 20th Century and this is maybe when everything changed for the better. Stein was not only a remarkable writer, but a key person to understand a number of artistic facts during the first third of the last Century. For example:
1. Gertrude Stein named “the lost generation”
The lost generation
According to García Lorenzo & Zamorano’s Modern and Contemporary American Literature, she was the one who named the writer’s generation who came out in the 1920’s. We are speaking about totems in the American Literature: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Pound… Almost the whole generation went to Paris and were received by Gertrude Stein.
2. She really bet on Picasso
Picasso got to Paris when he was really young, just a talented and confused boy who barely spoke French and went around with his friend Casagemás. it was Gertrude Stein who moved his paintings into the market and found his firsts buyers. Funny thing: when Picasso discovered cubism, she did not like it, nevertheless, as time went by, she admitted that was wrong about the movement. Actually, she wrote a biography about the Spanish artist where she writes about this!
3. Woody Allen paid tribute to her
Have you seen Midnight in Paris? Well, if you have not, then you have to. Best movie ever. With Hemingway, Fitzgerald (both Francis S. and Zelda), Picasso, Dali, Juan Belmonte, Luis Buñuel, Joséphine Baker… And Gertrude Stein reviewing a a Picassso’s painting! The Oscar winner Kathy Bates (Have you seen Misery? If you have not, then, you have. Almost the best movie ever) plays the role of Stein.
Kathy Bates playing Gertrude Stein in “Midnight in Paris”
4. “Ernest, write a true sentence”
Precisely in Midnight in Paris (you really have to see the movie. Best movie ever.) Hemingway says Paris is “a moveable feast”. That is the title of a book by him based in his Parisian years. In the chapter three, he confesses that was incapable of writing a single line so he looked for an advise in Gertrude Stein’s house. She told him: write a true sentence. Write the truest sentence you know”. The rest is history. Hemingway’s readers will recognize this in every single word by the writer.
5. And yes, Gertrude Stein was a lesbian
Do not hesitate: this is a proud company. One more year we want to show our support to the cause by promoting and speaking about a great woman who happened to be a Lesbian. With capital letters. Her parter was Alice Babette Toklas, also a great artist. The are many things to do and many people to remember. It is because of women like Gertrude Stein that we are what we are nowadays, free people who wants to walk a path of freedom. And we will. Happy Pride 2020!