Inspiration - Lillian Bassman

Photographer Lillian Bassman is one of those whose work stands out more as an artist than simply a technician.

Damon Winter/New York Times

The New York Times has published a sweet bio about Ms. Bassman in conjuction with an  exhibit KMR Arts in Washington Depot, Conn.

Bassman's vision carried the emotion of womanhood, rather than just the visual image of it. When she photographed lingerie for Warners or Olga, the viewer was invited into the intimate serenity of the dressing room and the photo was not about an undergarment, it was about the introspective moment before a woman is finally dressed.

Bassman worked as a photographer and art director at Harpers Bazaar for more than 20 years. Her fashion photography often pushed the boundaries from representation to abstraction through dramatic lighting, often diagonal composition, and then darkroom manipulation.

At the age of 92, and after having in the 60s destroyed much of her earlier work, Ms. Bassman is currently reinterpreting and re-printing her fashion photos with the use of darkroom and manual manipulation, and photoshop. So it's most likely that the images shown here are not as they were originally printed, but as Ms. Bassman herself interprets them decades after they were created. No matter. They remain beautiful, original and iconic.

Comments

[tina of forrestina vintage]

Just fantastic, thanks!

[Pam Fierro]

Hi Eileen!

I just adore her work, I saw that article including the slideshow of her newest work, simply stunning.

[Lisa]

Thank you for this - She is my very favorite photographer and it is wonderful to see someone mentioning her!