Hannah Gluckstein (called Gluck, 1895-1978) was a distinctive, original figure in the early evolution of modern art in Britain. This handsome book presents a major reassessment of Gluck's, life and work, examining, within the context of the artist's body of work, Gluck's numerous personal relationships and contemporary notions of gender and social history. Cluck's paintings comprise a full range of artistic genres - still life, landscape, portraiture - as well as images of popular entertainers.
Financially independent and somewhat freed from social convention, Gluck wore closely cropped hair and men's tailored clothing which declared a non-binding gender identity, with the artist known for a number of self portraits that played with conventions of masculinity and femininity. Richly illustrated, this volume is a timely and significant contribution to gender studies and to the understanding of a complex and important modern painter.
Amy de la Haye is professor of dress history and curatorship at London College of Fashion and joint director of the University of the Arts London Centre for Fashion Curation. Martin Pel is curator of fashion and textiles at the Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove.
