Lincoln Kirstein was a pivotal American writer, impresario, and art connoisseur who profoundly shaped 20th-century American culture. He is most famously remembered as the co-founder of the New York City Ballet, which he established with the legendary choreographer George Balanchine. Kirstein's vision was to create a distinctly American classical ballet tradition, free from European dominance, which he successfully achieved through his tireless work and patronage. Beyond ballet, he was a prolific author, a co-founder of the influential literary journal Hound & Horn, and an advisor for the arts to the US Army during World War II.