Edward Steichen: Twentieth-Century Photographer

Drawn primarily from deCordova’s permanent collection, this exhibition presents a dynamic survey of photographs by Edward Steichen, whose innovation as a photographer helped define the breadth of the medium in the twentieth century.  It will trace his exploration of the range of representation enabled by the photographic medium, from his early expressive, Pictorialist images, to his decades-long work as a commercial photographer taking portrait photographs of the rich and famous for Condé Nast.  It will also consider his work as the head of the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit in World War II, and on to his work as the director of photography at the Museum of Modern Art, NY where he curated over forty influential exhibitions.

Edward Steichen, Brancusi, Voulangis, France, c. 1922; printed 1987, silver gelatin print, 13 x 10 1/2 inches (image and paper), Gift of Stephen L. Singer and Linda G. Singer.

Edward Steichen. Lotus, Mount Kisco, New York, 1915; printed 1982, silver gelatin print, 13 1/4 x 10 1/2 inches (image & paper), Gift of Diane Singer in honor of the 8-31-97 marriage of Diane

Edward Steichen, Self-Portrait with Studio Camera, 1917; printed 1982, silver gelatin print, 13 1/8 x 10 5/8 inches (image and paper), Gift of Stephen L. Singer and Linda G. Singer.

Edward Steichen, The Blue Sky, Long Island, New York, 1923; printed 1987, silver gelatin print, 9 1/2 x 7 1/4 inches (image and paper), Gift of Stephen L. Singer and Linda G. Singer.