About the event:

Deaths of Artists (Blast Books; April 7) was inspired by two forgotten scrapbooks archivist Jim Moske discovered in museum storage. Compiled from 1906 to 1929, the scrapbooks are packed with century-old newspaper obituaries of painters, illustrators, sculptors, and photographers, famous and forgotten alike. Somber death notices of luminaries like Claude Monet and Auguste Rodin are preserved on their crumbling pages, side by side with tragic and often grisly stories of obscure artists who met their demise as victims of accident, murder, poverty, and disease.

Moske’s meticulously researched narrative is illustrated with full-page images of scrapbook pages, details of shocking obituary headlines, paintings and sculptures by the artist-subjects, and unique documents from the Met archives. The deaths of artists, seen in the light of their uncommon lives, add up to much more than just a litany of sad endings.

In this live virtual talk, Insiders will learn about Moske’s surprising discovery and the fascinating journey it led him on. Viewers will have a chance to ask questions during a Q&A!

About Jim Moske

Jim Moske is an archivist and author based in New York City. He was Managing Archivist of The Metropolitan Museum of Art from 2008-2023 and previously was Archivist of the New York Public Library.  

In his creative practice, Jim explores the visual qualities and unintended meanings of historical documents through research, writing, and picture-making.

Attendees will receive a link to join the webinar after completing the registration.