Gertrude Stein, Bronze historic site and statue in Bryant Park, Manhattan, US.
Gertrude Stein is an outdoor bronze sculpture in Bryant Park, Manhattan, based on a 1923 model by Jo Davidson and cast in 1992. Davidson, a friend of Stein from her Paris years, depicted her as "a modern Buddha" to convey her "eternal quality". The seated figure has an open book on her lap.
The sculpture is based on an original model created by artist Jo Davidson in Paris during 1923, which was later cast for display here. It was installed at its current location in 1992, commemorating the writer during her most influential years.
The monument honors Gertrude Stein's role as a writer and mentor who shaped the creative lives of many American and European artists in the early 1900s. You can sense her cultural importance by observing how the statue portrays her as a thoughtful listener and guide to others.
The bronze sits on a bench-height plinth in Bryant Park beside the New York Public Library Main Branch, at the park's east end near Fifth Avenue and 41st Street. The surrounding park paths are paved and level, with several entrances from the sidewalks along Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. The sculpture is outdoors and can be viewed at any hour.
Sculptor Jo Davidson, a friend of Stein from her Paris years, depicted her as "a modern Buddha" rather than in motion. In 1993, the Lesbian Avengers placed a temporary statue of Alice B. Toklas, Stein's longtime partner, beside the bronze to celebrate Stein's lesbianism.
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