A Female Gaze in Photography from the Early 1900s to Today
The article outlines a lineage of female photographers from the early 20th century to today, emphasizing their unique viewpoints in documentary photography. Lisette Model, originally named Elise Seybert, emigrated from Austria to the United States in 1938 after studying music with Arnold Schönberg. Her renowned photograph, "Coney Island Bather" (1939-41), embodies her commitment to examining both external realities and internal complexities. At the New School for Social Research, she taught Diane Arbus, who transitioned from fashion photography to capturing marginalized communities. Arbus’s last works (1970-71) featured individuals with Down syndrome before her tragic suicide in 1971. Continuing this legacy are Nan Goldin (b. 1953) and Cindy Sherman (b. 1954), who tackle issues of intimacy and female stereotypes.
Key facts
- Lisette Model, born Elise Seybert in Austria, studied music with Arnold Schönberg.
- Model moved to the US in 1938 and worked with Alexey Brodovitch.
- Her photo 'Coney Island Bather' (1939-41) depicts a plus-size woman on a New York beach.
- Diane Arbus studied under Model at the New School for Social Research.
- Arbus's work appeared in the 1967 'New Documents' exhibition with Friedländer and Winogrand.
- Arbus died by suicide in 1971; her photos were shown at the 1972 Venice Biennale.
- Nan Goldin's 'The Ballad of Sexual Dependency' (1985) examines couple dynamics.
- Cindy Sherman's 'Untitled Film Stills' (1978) is a key postmodern work.
- Gillian Wearing's 'Signs...' (1992-93) uses written messages held by subjects.
Entities
Artists
- Lisette Model
- Elise Seybert
- Diane Arbus
- Nan Goldin
- Cindy Sherman
- Gillian Wearing
- Arnold Schönberg
- Alexey Brodovitch
- Paul Strand
- Berenice Abbott
- Lee Friedländer
- Garry Winogrand
- Edward Steichen
- Allen Arbus
- Charlotte Cotton
Institutions
- New School for Social Research
- Venice Biennale
- Artribune
Locations
- Austria
- France
- United States
- New York City
- Greenwich Village
- Coney Island
- Venice
- Italy