FEBRUARY 10, 2020
biography of a significant photographer + accompanying presentation
Edward Steichen
Eduard Jean Steichen was an influential American photographer and gallerist born in 1879 in Bivange, Luxembourg. At the age of 2, he and his mother moved to Illinois to live with his father in the United States. During his teenage years, Steichen was an apprentice for lithography but quickly became a lithograph designer after showing promise in the form. He later pursued photography, an art that he taught himself using a Kodak 50-exposure box camera. His simultaneous exploration of painting evoked a Pictorialist style in his works. Three years after starting photography, Steichen had his first show at the Philadelphia Photographic Salon, with Clarence White serving as a juror. Eventually, he gained prominence as a fashion photographer and progressed to become one of the highest paid photographers of his time.
Steichen is often viewed as a master of composition and considered to be a pioneer in color photography. This began in his twenties when he studied in Paris, where he tested pigment processing and the gum bichromate process, and was further refined upon his return to America. During his career, Steichen also formed a deep professional relationship with his contemporary Alfred Stieglitz, and Steichen’s work was frequently showcased in Stieglitz’s quarterly journal Camera Work. Notably, Stieglitz was the first person to buy Steichen’s photographs, three of which he purchased for $15 in New York. His admiration of Steichen’s work continued from that point, evidenced by his featuring of Steichen’s photography over 60 times in the journal. The two stayed in contact even after Steichen returned to Paris with his family in 1906.
While back in France, Steichen worked to develop his painting skills and helped form the New Society of American Painters. He also communicated closely with Stieglitz, introducing him to the works of now-famous French artists and playing a significant role in bringing modern art to America.
In 1914, Steichen returned to the US and joined the army during World War I. This turning point was paralleled in Steichen’s later work, as after 1920 he focused completely on modernist ideas of Straight Photography and renounced Pictorialism. He excelled in fashion photography, and was published in Vogue, Vanity Fair, and many other prominent magazines during his career. He also worked on celebrity portraiture, taking photos of stars such as George Gershwin and Charlie Chaplin. Both of these styles, as explored by Steichen, were greatly shaped by his work. However, he and Stieglitz parted ways after Steichen started commercial fashion photography.
In 1937, Steichen retired from fashion and commercial photography. He went on to serve as director of the US Naval Photography Division during World War II and later became the Museum of Modern Art’s photography department director in 1942. One of his most famous contributions to the arts occurred in this latter position, as he organized the extremely successful exhibition “The Family of Man”. This exhibit was developed over the course of 3 years before opening in 1955. It featured over 500 photographs from 273 photographers, who collectively represented over 60 countries. The impact of this exhibit cannot be understated: it was seen by over 9 million people and had an 8-year long tour that spanned 37 countries. This was one of the highlights of Steichen’s extremely prestigious career.
Steichen’s time at the MoMA came to an end in 1962. He continued to receive awards and accolades throughout the remainder of his life. In March 1973, Steichen died at the age of 93 in Connecticut. His work is still featured in renowned galleries across the country.
Sources: