Berthe Weill: Visionary Art Dealer of the Avant-Garde
Berthe Weill is a name once synonymous with art in Paris, a dealer for some of the greatest names in avant-garde art. Yet today, her name has almost been lost to history. From October until January 26, the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris will showcase the life and work of this great dealer. In partnership with the Grey Art Museum in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal, the exhibition will introduce visitors to Weill’s career and influence on art history. Several hundred pieces will be shown, highlighting the historical context of the time in Europe as well. Work by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Diego Rivera and Amedeo Modigliani will be included, as will painting by the lesser known artists she championed.
Early Life
Born in 1865, Berthe Weill was raised in the 1st arrondissement of Paris to parents working in the textile trade. As a Jewish family of lower-middle class, she was only able to attend school until the age of 10. Through early apprenticeships, she was introduced to the work of art critics and began to take an interest in the careers of emerging artists. Her first array into an art gallery was opened with her brother but quickly closed down.
Galerie B. Weill
In 1900, Berthe was introduced to Pablo Picasso and by 1901 she had opened Galerie B. Weill at 25 Rue Victor‑Massé. She called it “a place for the young.” Weill was known for supporting the careers of young artists and women, often showing a wide array of styles. She was Picasso’s first art dealer and the only female art dealer to promote the avant-garde at the start of the 20th century. While open, Galerie B. Weill showcased work by many greats including – Picasso, Braque, Rivera, Manguin, Dufy, Modigliani, Kisling, and more. “Of the nearly 400 exhibitions she mounted, one third included works of art by women artists,” wrote the New York Times in 2024.
Later Years
In 1933, Weill published her memoirs describing her years as an art dealer. By 1941, with growing antisemitism in Europe and the outbreak of World War II, she closed her gallery for good. She was supported in later life by painters who promoted and auctioned work off. The proceeds were donated the take care of her until her death in 1951. Three years before her death she was recognized by France as a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur for her contribution to modern art.
She will forever be remembered for her work in championing women and avant-garde artists bringing a viewpoint never before seen to the art world.