Artist Quote: "I was brought up on art. My father thought I had a great hand at art and sent me to art school. But he did not want me to become a photographer." Achievements: Cunningham has been called the "Grandmother of Photography" for her seminal role in popularizing the medium in its early years and for successfully moving the practice into the realm of fine art. | About the Artist: With a strong interest in photography she pursued and received a degree in chemistry from The University of Washington in Seattle in 1907. She worked with famous portrait photographer, Edward Curtis. In 1945, famous nature photographer, Ansel Adams, asked her to accept a position at the California School of Fine Arts; she would be one of the first faculty members for the new fine art photography department. About the Artwork: Cunningham created minimalist, geometrically styled close-ups of plants that are visually arresting. There is clear focus on abstracted form and light in her work. Cunningham created expressive portraiture and offered a more naturalistic approach than the rigid poses and stereotype formats of many commercial studios of the time. |
Sources:
https://www.imogencunningham.com/
https://iphf.org/inductees/imogen-cunningham/
https://www.theartstory.org/artist/cunningham-imogen/life-and-legacy/
https://www.imogencunningham.com/
https://iphf.org/inductees/imogen-cunningham/
https://www.theartstory.org/artist/cunningham-imogen/life-and-legacy/