Nationality American Role Artist Name Dorothy Block | Spouse(s) Robert Dublirer Known for Painting Died November 5, 1984 | |
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Born 1904 Brooklyn, New York | ||
Dorothy Block (1904–November 5, 1984) was an American painter who was educated by her uncle, Louis Keila, the Mary Baldwin College, and the Art Students League of New York. She taught at the Art Students League and participated in the Federal Art Project, including writing a memoir about her experience as an artist in the early 20th century. Her sister, Lilian Block MacKendrick, was also an artist.
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Life
She was born in Brooklyn, New York to Joseph and Rebecca Block, who had both immigrated to the United States in 1888 and 1889, respectively, from Russia and together they ran an import business. They had three daughters, Ethel, Dorothy, and Lilian. Joseph Block had a financial interest and was vice president and general manager of the Franco Electric Company until 1921. He had a number of patents for decorative electric devices. In 1920, the family lived in the Hotel Touraine in Brooklyn and Joseph was an executive with Electrical Corporation.
Education
Dorothy Josephine and Lilian Jeanette, who would both become artists, attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia. Both sisters were members of the Sky High Club. Dorothy was a member of the school's art club. Dorothy and Lilian studied art under their maternal uncle, painter and sculptor Louis Keila. Dorothy studied under William von Schlegell at the Art Students League of New York, which she attended between 1920 and 1930. Block was a friend and correspondent of Brooklyn painter and printmaker Lena Gurr, who attended the Art Students League from 1920 to 1922.
Career
She worked at Art Students League and as part of the Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project, including having written Reminiscences of an Artist about the Federal Art Project.
Personal life
Block was married to Robert Dublirer. Her sister and student was artist Lillian MacKendrick. She had a daughter, Dr. Johanna C. Fisher of Huntington Beach, New York who was the step-daughter of Robert Dublirer. She was a friend of fellow artists Aristodemos Kaldis and Jacob Lawrence.
Blocked died on November 5, 1984 in her house. Her collected papers are stored in the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Art. The Frick Art Reference Library also has a collection of archival information about her works and career, assembled by the Museum of Modern Art.