Object Details
- Artist
- Max Westfield, 1882 - 1971
- Sitter
- Albert Einstein, 14 Mar 1879 - 18 Apr 1955
- Exhibition Label
- Born Ulm, Germany
- The world-renowned scientist Albert Einstein transformed physics with his groundbreaking theory of relativity. From 1933 until his death, the German-born physicist worked at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, never returning to his homeland after the Nazis came to power.
- Einstein’s pacifist and socialist views made him the target of U.S. government surveillance. Deemed a security risk, he was not invited to participate in the Manhattan Project (1942–45), the top-secret venture that produced the world’s first atomic bomb. His warning to President Roosevelt about Germany’s potential to develop nuclear weaponry, however, had accelerated its establishment. After the war, Einstein spoke out against the Red Scare and congressional investigations of alleged Communist sympathizers. In 1953, he advised fellow intellectuals to refuse to participate in the McCarthy hearings, declaring it “shameful for a blameless citizen to submit to such an inquisition” that “violates the spirit of the Constitution.”
- Nacido en Ulm, Alemania
- El renombrado científico Albert Einstein transformó la física con su revolucionaria teoría de la relatividad. Desde 1933 hasta su muerte, trabajó en el Instituto de Estudios Avanzados de Princeton, Nueva Jersey, y no volvió a su Alemania natal después de que los nazis tomaran el poder.
- Sus posturas pacifistas y socialistas lo hicieron blanco de la vigilancia del gobierno de EE.UU. Considerado un riesgo para la seguridad, lo excluyeron del Proyecto Manhattan (1942–45), iniciativa secreta que produjo la primera bomba atómica del mundo. Sin embargo, el proyecto había tomado auge porque el propio Einstein había advertido al presidente Roosevelt que Alemania tenía el potencial de desarrollar armas nucleares. Tras la guerra, Einstein combatió el fomento del pánico al comunismo y la investigación de supuestos simpatizantes comunistas por parte del Congreso. En 1953 aconsejó a sus colegas intelectuales que no participaran en las audiencias de McCarthy: “Es vergonzoso que un ciudadano inocente se someta a esta inquisición” que “infringe el espíritu de la Constitución”.
- Provenance
- The artist; gift to NPG 1967
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the artist
- 1944
- Object number
- NPG.67.16
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © Estate of Max Westfield
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- Stretcher: 102.9 x 77.5cm (40 1/2 x 30 1/2")
- Frame: 123.2 x 97.8 x 9.5cm (48 1/2 x 38 1/2 x 3 3/4")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Exhibition
- 20th Century Americans: 1930-1960
- On View
- NPG, South Gallery 321
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Interior
- Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair\Armchair
- Printed Material\Papers
- Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
- Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Writing implement\Pen
- Albert Einstein: Male
- Albert Einstein: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer\Scientific writer
- Albert Einstein: Politics and Government\Government official
- Albert Einstein: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor\University
- Albert Einstein: Science and Technology\Scientist\Physicist
- Albert Einstein: Science and Technology\Scientist\Scientific Theorist
- Albert Einstein: Nobel Prize
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.67.16
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4f2885c95-f3b4-4c7d-83cc-7cbf206ade22
