A Life in Photography

by Edward Steichen

A leading American photographer's comments on his work highlight a collection of his most outstanding pieces

Genres: Photography, Art, Biography

1 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Edward Jean Steichen (March 27, 1879 – March 25, 1973) was a Luxembourgish American photographer, painter, and art gallery and museum curator.
Steichen was the most frequently featured photographer in Alfred Stieglitz' groundbreaking magazine Camera Work during its run from 1903 to 1917. Together Stieglitz and Steichen opened the Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession, which eventually became known as 291 after its address.
His photos of gowns for the magazine Art et Décoration in 1911 are regarded as the first modern fashion photographs ever published. From 1923 to 1938, Steichen was a photographer for the Condé Nast magazines Vogue and Vanity Fair while also working for many advertising agencies including J. Walter Thompson. During these years, Steichen was regarded as the best known and highest paid photographer in the world. In 1944, he directed the war documentary The Fighting Lady, which won the 1945 Academy Award for Best Documentary.
After World War II, Steichen was Director of the Department of Photography at New York's Museum of Modern Art until 1962. While at MoMA, he curated and assembled the exhibit The Family of Man, which was seen by nine million people.

Reviews

[Karen Repka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book if you love photography, and I do! Not only does it provide a wonderful collection of Edward Steichen's photographs; it also provides his own comments on the photos. What a fascinating life -- his life was a biographical dictionary! Even his brother-in-law was Carl Sandburg! I felt like I was talking with Steichen. I have had the book for years and previously viewed it as a photograph collection; then I realized the full narrative! Worth reading! I then enjoyed his Family of Man collection.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A world class tour through the eye and mind of one the world's great photographers. Great images of his transformative images as well a definitive early history of the NY, Paris worlds of photography as well as World War I

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A time travel through history through the lens of his life/photos. Almost Forrest Gump-like as Steichen found himself involved with so many other famous people through history/2 world wars, etc. I was only expecting a book filled with examples of his photography and was happily surprised to find his story leading off each section of pictures. A great way to spend an afternoon.

[Dyer]

The Annie Liebowitz of his time. Great photos of celebrities, not just Hollywood but also musicians, authors, poets, to say nothing of his capturing daily life.