Imogen Cunningham
- 1. April 12, 1883 – June 24, 1976Imogen Cunningham“Imo”By Debra A. MurphyEDU 703Professor Peter SmithApril 18, 2011
- 2. Born :Portland Oregon – April 12, 1883Educated:Technische Hochschule – Dresden, Germany ChemistryContemporaries:Alvin Langden Coburn
- 5. Ansel Adams
- 7. Minor WhiteExhibits:Brooklyn Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 8. An International Exhibition of Pictorial PhotographyEmployment:Vanity Fair Magazine
- 9. Faculty Member California School of Fine Arts.Died:June 24, 1976 – San Francisco CaliforniaIntroduction
- 10. Magnolia-Blossom, 1925BotanicalsIn this close up the subject is clearly the Magnolia Blossom with the subject matter extending beyond the border.
- 11. Tulip Tree, 1934BotanicalsThe Tulip Tree was captured with Natural Light and a Large Format Camera. The angle of the camera adds depth.
- 12. Tower of Jewels, 1925BotanicalsExtreme Close-up of the inside of a Magnolia is intensified by the effects of the lighting . Imogen made an extended study of Magnolias for 1923-1925
- 13. Magnolia Bud, 1920’sBotanicalsAll about the light, this image gains its impact from the dark backdrop and the lighting from the right creating a shadow on the left.
- 14. Portia Hume 2, ~1930NudesImogen began to photograph nudes in the early 1900's, and created a series of focused nude studies in the late 20's and early 30's. This print has a great sense of depth with a warm tone and nice detail in the highlights.
- 15. Triangles, 1928NudesTriangles has become one of Imogen's well-known nudes. Imogen made this 4x5 inch negative, and after developing the negative, she wrote on the file folder, "The One!“ Again, lighting and the close up nature of the photo intensifies the impact.
- 16. Triangles Plus 1, 1928NudesJackie and Helen Greaves, “Imo’s” friends who she photographed both alone and together.
- 17. Figures No. 1, 1923NudesThis image of Imogen's was originally titled "Figures, No. 1" and was taken in the midst of Imogen's interest in both nudes and plant forms. Imogen's shift from pictorialism to modernism is clearly evident in this 1923 work. Again, shadow and light are major presence in this photograph
- 18. Martha Graham 8, 1931Portraits Brilliantly lit by the sun and set against the backdrop of a dark, open barn door, Imogen produced ninety Graflex negatives of Martha Graham in one afternoon. This photo session resulted in the first of a series Imogen had printed in Vanity Fair in the December, 1931 issue.
- 19. Martha Graham 8, 1931PortraitsAgain, the use of the black background accentuates the whiteness of Martha’s dress. The image that portrays only the neck down underscores the importance of the dancer’s body and the light becoming brighter as it reaches the legs establishes them as the pinnacle of the dancer’s ability – they are the focal point of the image.
- 20. Frida KahloPortraitsIn Imogen’s series of Artist Frida Kahlo, she uses the camera to present Kahlo as a Mexican Princess and royalty that she became to the artistic world.
- 21. Frida KahloPortraitsThe use of shadows here gives Kahlo a solemnity and insinuates a darker side of the artist.
- 22. Frida KahloPortraitsIn this shot, Cunningham illustrates the playful side of Kahlo while maintaining her regality. The traditional clothing against the stark white stucco back drop accentuates Kahlo’s heritage. The positioning of Kahlo, hands on hips head tilted up exemplifies her defiance of convention and her confidence.
- 23. Imogen CunninghamApril 12, 1883 – June 24, 1976