Private Life: A New York Review Podcast
May 6, 2026 · 37 min · 21 segments
*Private Life* presents a bonus episode from our friends at *Dialogues: The David Zwirner Podcast*. Produced by the eponymous art gallery, *Dialogues* brings together artists, creatives, and…
Lisa SaltzmanGuestJarrett EarnestHostI'm so excited about our conversation today.
Um, we're going to talk about the thesis on the philosophy of history.
It is an essay I, like many others, have returned to over and over again.
It is the ultimate essay for hard times.
And I know that you're at work on a new project that explores the legacy and influence of Walter Benjamin's engagement with Paul Klee's 1920 drawing, The Angelus Novus, a drawing that Benjamin writes about in his thesis on the philosophy of history, a drawing that because of Benjamin, we often just call it The Angel of History.
Uh, and this story, like many, has a few different beginning points.
And I just thought in the tradition of Uncle Walter and Uncle Walter's radio show, we would, uh, I'd just like to ask you a bunch of questions to, to get this story out of you because it's such a greatAn important story, and I think it's a story about artwork and writing and history that just is fecund beyond all measure and has real things to say to this moment.
I'm so excited about our conversation today.
Um, we're going to talk about the thesis on the philosophy of history.
It is an essay I, like many others, have returned to over and over again.
It is the ultimate essay for hard times.
And I know that you're at work on a new project that explores the legacy and influence of Walter Benjamin's engagement with Paul Klee's 1920 drawing, The Angelus Novus, a drawing that Benjamin writes about in his thesis on the philosophy of history, a drawing that because of Benjamin, we often just call it The Angel of History.
Uh, and this story, like many, has a few different beginning points.
And I just thought in the tradition of Uncle Walter and Uncle Walter's radio show, we would, uh, I'd just like to ask you a bunch of questions to, to get this story out of you because it's such a greatAn important story, and I think it's a story about artwork and writing and history that just is fecund beyond all measure and has real things to say to this moment.
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3 of 6
Defining The Angel Of History
Here’s the passage everyone remembers.
Benjamin’s Final Night
At the border, fate turns brutal.
Arendt Carries His Last Words
Friendship keeps the pages alive.
+3 more clips · 7 min 58 sec of audio in all
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