Additional Images

Provenance:

Estate of Al Gilbert, Toronto, ON

Note:

Edward Steichen was a groundbreaking photographer who made significant contributions to the art form in the early 20th century. He was born in Luxembourg in 1879 and grew up in the United States. Steichen began his career as a painter, but he eventually turned his attention to photography, where he made his mark as a master of both black and white and color photography.

One of Steichen's defining characteristics as a photographer was his willingness to experiment with different techniques and styles. He was known for his use of soft focus and diffused lighting to create dreamlike, ethereal images, and he also utilized double exposure and other multiple exposure techniques to produce complex, layered images.

Steichen was particularly interested in portraiture and fashion photography, where he used his camera to capture the beauty and complexity of the human form. His images were notable for their use of lighting and composition to create a sense of drama and excitement, and his work for fashion publications helped to establish the visual vocabulary of the modern fashion industry. Steichen helped to establish is art form through his involvement in the Photo-Secession movement and his work as a curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.