The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris
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"Through masterful research and sparkling prose, The Club feels like an exclusive invitation to a Parisian enclave during an era of artistic and social transformation." -Michael Finkel, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Art Thief
A deliciously entertaining, never-before-told history of a residence for American women artists in Paris from 1893 to 1914.
In Belle Époque Paris, the Eiffel Tower was newly built, France was experiencing remarkable political stability, and American women were painting the town and gathering at a female-only Residence known as The American Girls' Club in Paris. Opened in 1893, The Club was the center of expatriate living and of dedication to a calling in the fine arts, and singularly harbored a generation of independent, talented, and driven American women.
Now in The Club, curator, art historian, and podcast host Jennifer Dasal presents the never-before-told story of the Club, the philanthropists who created it, and the artists it housed. These women forged connections in the arts and letters with luminaries like Auguste Rodin and Gertrude Stein or became activists through their relationships with the likes of Emmeline Pankhurst. But just as importantly, these women's lives revealed the power of the Club itself, and the way that having a safe home for single women of ambition allowed them to grow as teachers, artists, suffragists, and people.
For readers interested in women's lives as captured in books like The Barbizon, art history buffs who loved Ninth Street Women, and armchair travelers longing to visit Belle Époque Paris, The Club is a captivating, colorful new history.
Praise for The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris
“A full history of a long-forgotten establishment . . . [a] wealth of historical detail . . . [and] fine analysis of a number of artworks.” —The New York Times Book Review
“[A] lively history . . . Drawing on extensive research, including memoirs and letters, Ms. Dasal paints a vivid picture of daily life for the Club's young artists.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Through masterful research and sparkling prose, The Club feels like an exclusive invitation to a Parisian enclave during an era of artistic and social transformation.” —Michael Finkel, #1 New York Times best-selling author of THE ART THIEF
“Jennifer Dasal's captivating history immerses readers in late 19th and early 20th-century Paris, where the struggles and successes of the American Girls' Club resident artists resonate powerfully with contemporary issues.” —Sean Fitzgibbon, author of WHAT FOLLOWS IS TRUE: CRESCENT HOTEL
“Jennifer Dasal has written a true gift to the story of art history, one she delivers with passion and scrupulous research, shining a light on the untold story of American woman artists of Belle Epoque Paris and the world surrounding them. The Club is an essential addition to any library of art history.” —Jeff Lanier, author of FOR THE MINDS AND WILLS OF MEN
“The story of Paris as central to the history of art is a familiar one we might think we know. Enter Jennifer Dasal's eye-opening account of the Club, a place thriving in the heart of Belle Époque Paris and beyond where American women seeking education and opportunity so often denied them at home found art, friendship and mutual support for their unprecedented work, and lives. The Club was essential to generations of pioneering American women artists, and so is Dasal's wonderful book in bringing their stories to new light.” —Bridget Quinn, author of PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN
“Reading The Club is like being slipped the password to a speakeasy or directions to an exclusive art show happening in a bohemian corner of Paris . . . Dasal paints an engaging picture deeply rooted in primary sources and with seamless integration of archival materials, personal letters, and contemporary accounts . . . [T]his is a joyful and vibrant portrait of individuals with aspirations, struggles, and triumphs . . . The Club is a captivating look at a glamorous and singular part of the history of women in the arts, and a testament to the power of community and support.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review
“Dasal brings to light a cast of talented, courageous women whose lives, and art, defied expectations; her engaging history pays homage to the singular space that nurtured them. A fresh look at female artists.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Evocative . . . Bring[s] the era to vivid life . . . Readers will be engrossed.” —Publishers Weekly
“Engaging . . . Dasal does an excellent job of placing these adventuresome artists into the social milieu of their era . . . Thoroughly researched . . . this book will appeal to readers interested in history, art, and sociology.” —Library Journal
“ArtCurious unspools like a juicy novel, detailing the backstories of several art history notables, their families, mentors, fellow artists, lovers and more . . . All this adds up to a fascinating, lively take on a topic that is too often reduced to dry facts. Art history buffs or anyone who likes a good thriller will find ArtCurious a welcome escape.” —BookPage
“In Belle Époque Paris, American women artists gathered at The American Girls' Club. In The Club, art historian Jennifer Dasal reveals the never-before-told story of the unique boarding house, home to aspiring artists, including the philanthropists who created it . . . [A] must read for art history lovers.” —Town & Country
“The Club is largely forgotten today, but Dasal intends to rescue its story and reputation. She deftly sketches the social milieu that shaped the organization. Her portraits dazzle . . . Dasal's narrative sustains a warm, conversational tone, and her research is revelatory.” —The Minnesota Star Tribune
“In this vivid story of Belle Époque Paris, the art historian Dasal shines a light on a legendary female boardinghouse for expats, the American Girls' Club in Paris. From 1893, 'the Club' played host to a generation of independent young artists - complete with cameos from Emmeline Pankhurst and Gertrude Stein.” —The New York Times Book Review, "Let Us Help You Find Your Next Book"
“A welcome addition to the growing body of literature about American women artists that will also appeal to readers interested in women's history and the history of Western European culture.” —Booklist
“Dasal's survey resurrects the spirit that animated [the Club's women]. Written in breezy prose . . . The Club is itself a bit like the paintings of the artists of 4 Rue de Chevreuse: light and airy, with dashes of colour in just the right places, suffused with the creator's enthusiasm for her subject.” —The Art Newspaper
“Dasal's clear writing invites readers into this hidden world, making complex history accessible and compelling. Together, her expertise and storytelling create a valuable resource for art lovers and historians alike . . . If you value rich history and elegant prose, this book promises to both enlighten and delight.” —DailyArt Magazine
“[Dasal's] writing is lighthearted and sprinkled with colorful anecdotes . . . which makes her history engaging.” —Washington Examiner
“Dasal . . . has unearthed records of some of the women who left the U.S. in the early 20th century to pursue their creative ambitions in France.” —Washington Independent Review of Books
“Dasal's scholarship is impressive, but her style is easy and approachable. An enjoyable work.” —Historical Novel Reviews
“Dasal provides a breezy account of the club by way of individual women who left accounts of their time. An intriguing addition to the history of women artists in Europe and America.” —The Southern Bookseller Review
“With silky prose, Dasal weaves a detailed tapestry of Belle Epoque society.” —Art & Object
