“The world doesn’t like independent women, why, I don’t know, but I don’t care.”
- Name: Berenice Abbott
- Born: July 17 ,1898
- Died: December 8, 1991
- From: Springfield, Ohio
- Pronouns: She/her
- Contribution/Impact: Abbott’s photos contributed to modern photography becoming recognized as an artform in Europe and America, proving the photography could be used for both documenting and creating art. She was considered a “proud proto-feminist” and identified publicly as a lesbian.
- Occupation: Artist, Photographer
- Known For: Brooklyn Bridge, Water and Dock Streets, Brooklyn; Normandie, North River, Manhattan, from Pier 88; Badenhausen
- Awards: 1970 Career Retrospective in The Museum of Modern Art, 1937 Exhibition of Photography in The Museum of Modern Art, 1932 Solo-exhibition at the Julien Levy Gallery
- Interesting Facts: She is responsible for preserving and bringing international recognition to the work of French photographer Eugène Atget
Abbott studied Sculpture and Photography in New York and Paris with renowned American artists and photographers like Man Ray. In 1925, Abbott opened up her own photography studio in Paris, making many portraits of well-known artists and aristocrats there. Upon returning to New York, Abbott was struck by the city’s rapid modernization and began to document the city architecture and urban life in 1929 through crisp and objective photos. Abbott would become famous for this style of photography, being featured in many galleries and exhibits.
Handout
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