Lillian Bassman worked as a textile designer and
fashion illustrator before working at Harper’s Bazaar as an art director and
then a self-taught photographer under Alexey Brodovitch.
It is pretty clear how her background influenced her photographic
aesthetic, but, still, how incredibly brave of her to be a woman working in
literally the ‘Mad Men’ era of advertising and magazine publishing New York
City, and challenge the way the world sees the female figure. I am of course editorializing here, but
many have and do agree. Lillian
Bassman was a trendsetter in her time.
And in her time, it was very challenging to be taken seriously as a
female artist.
I love her work because it still challenges our perception
of ‘woman’ and the female form more than half a century later. Even her skilled darkroom
experimentation can hardly be mimicked today with the most advanced
technologies. Lillian Bassman had
the ability to created drama, romance, elegance, and mystery in a single
frame. All the while advertising a
brand of perfume, pantyhose, fine jewelry and cosmetics.
Bassman lived and worked until just last year, passing away
in February of 2012. There were
fabulous tributes written after her passing. If you’d like to read more, please click here to see what
the New Your Times had to say.
Do you like her photography? Do you think it would still make great advertising
photography in today’s world?
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