Gertrude Stein

Date of Birth: February 3, 1874

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: July 27, 1946

Biography

Gertrude Stein was an influential American novelist, poet, playwright, and art collector, born on February 3, 1874, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. She spent her early years in Europe before settling in Oakland, California. Stein attended Radcliffe College, where she studied under psychologist William James, and later enrolled in Johns Hopkins Medical School but left without completing her degree. In 1903, Stein moved to Paris, where she would live for the rest of her life. She became an integral part of the Parisian avant-garde, hosting a salon that attracted notable artists and writers such as Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Stein’s writing is characterized by its experimental style, breaking away from conventional narrative forms. Her best-known work, “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas” (1933), was a bestseller and written in the voice of her lifelong partner, Alice B. Toklas. Stein’s contributions to literature and art were profound. She was a patron of modern art and an advocate for many young artists and writers. Her works continue to be studied and appreciated for their innovation and impact on 20th-century literature.

5 Interesting Facts about Gertrude Stein

1. Stein was an early collector of Cubist art and owned works by Picasso, Braque, and Matisse.

2. She coined the phrase “a rose is a rose is a rose,” reflecting her interest in the sounds and structures of words.

3. Stein’s Paris salon was a hub for the avant-garde, frequented by artists and writers who would later become legends.

4. She served as an ambulance driver during World War I alongside Alice B. Toklas.

5. Stein was openly gay at a time when it was socially taboo, living with her partner Alice B. Toklas for nearly 40 years.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gertrude Stein

1. “A rose is a rose is a rose.”

2. “There is no there there.”

3. “You are all a lost generation.”

4. “It takes a lot of time to be a genius. You have to sit around so much doing nothing, really doing nothing.”

5. “One must dare to be happy.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the height of her career, Gertrude Stein’s net worth was modest compared to contemporary standards, as her wealth was primarily in her extensive and valuable art collection rather than in liquid assets. The exact value is difficult to estimate, but her art collection alone was worth millions of dollars.