Gertrude STEIN was an American poet, novelist, playwright, and art collector. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1874 and is best known for her modernist writings, including the novels 'The Making of Americans' and 'Three Lives'. She was also a key figure in the development of the avant-garde art movement in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s. Her most famous work is the poem 'Sacred Emily', which was published in 1913. STEIN was also a close friend of Pablo Picasso and other leading figures in the art world.