About the Review

Read the Wall Street Journal Review by Edward Rothstein of the Boca Raton Museum of Art exhibition, Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: Cinema’s Creative Legacy. The review examines the history of Hollywood scenic art. It also explores the Hollywood Backdrop Collection and the importance of preserving these monumental works for future generations.

Published in The Wall Street Journal, Rothstein highlights Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: Cinema’s Creative Legacy, an exhibition at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. In addition, he introduces readers to 22 historic backdrops from films including Ben-Hur, Singin’ in the Rain, The Sound of Music, and North by Northwest. Rothstein describes these paintings as works of art in their own right. He also discusses the Backdrop Recovery Project and The University of Texas at Austin’s role in preserving the collection.

Wall Street Journal article review of The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: Cinema’s Creative Legacy

Highlights from the Review

“…the backings’ raw power is so palpable that it is hard to imagine them seeming inconsequential. Many now seem far more imposing than their movies.” — Wall Street Journal art critic Edward Rothstein

“Only at the twilight of an art form, perhaps, will its contours and character become most clear. That seems the case here. The mastery of these backings now seems mysterious and confounding—and their wizardry more compelling than many of the figures who once appeared before them.” — Wall Street Journal art critic Edward Rothstein

Finally, Rothstein reflects on how scenic paintings disappeared into the illusion of filmmaking. Today, however, they stand as remarkable works of art. When viewed outside the films for which artists created them, their scale, craftsmanship, and visual impact become even more apparent.

And see the collection archive here:

https://bocamuseum.org/art-experience/exhibitions/art-hollywood-backdrop