Quite often we neglect to view successful individuals apart from their achievements. That is, we neglect to see and understand their humanity. When we do explore that side, the focus is often on their failures as human beings. Frank Lloyd Wright, despite his genius, is often described as arrogant and unfriendly (among his other shortcomings). The same has been said about Eero Saarinen.
Whatever truth may be found in that characterization, it does not represent the whole of any man (or woman!).
Alexandra Lange demonstrates as much as she shows us a different side of Eero Saarinen. Her wonderfully written article, Love & Architecture, explores the beginning of Saarinen’s romance with Aline Saarinen, and provides a fascinating entree into the Aline and Eero Saarinen Papers, 1906-1977, held at the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian.
Take a moment, read the article, and see what happens when love and architecture collide.
