Janet Lippincott was born in 1918 to a family of privilege in New York City. Her Aunt Gertrude Lippincott, a modern dancer, took her to museums, and when Lippincott saw her first Picasso she was turned on to modern art. Her family lived in Paris during her childhood which was another influence on her art.

When Lippincott was age 15, her mother, on the suggestion of a friend, enrolled her at the Art Students League in a life drawing class. Thinking it was a course in nature drawing, Lippincott was taken back when a male nude entered the class. She left the room and sat in the park but did return to the class when a female nude was the subject.

The artist graduated from the Todhunter School, a ...