Catalogue Entry

Joseph Stella, a founder of The Society of Independent Artists, invited Torres-García to the Society’s yearly costume ball at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, where the artists competed for the most creative outfit. As The New York Times reported, “men’s costumes were more exciting than the women’s..John Xceron, the Greek futurist artist, was in a futuristically painted costume with a tall futuristic hat...[Joseph Stella] in a Spanish mantle was an Emperor ‘with a kingdom...[and Raphael Sala, (a Spanish artist friend of Torres-García) was] a beautiful white satin Pierrot with an enormous black ruff and a heart worn on the outside - To Let...The New York Times Building found itself unexpectedly dancing with the Independents on the costume of J. Torres-García, the Spanish artist who had New York City outlined on his costume, he sat on the Bowery, the Times building was on his chest just above Forty-Second Street, and the Bronx ran uptown on the back of his neck." ("Greenwich Village Tops Artists Ball," March 12, 1921)