Edward Steichen

Edward Steichen
F. Holland Day · Public domain · source
Name	Edward Steichen
Birth date	March 27, 1879
Birth place	Bivange, Luxembourg
Death date	March 25, 1973
Death place	West Redding, Connecticut, United States
Nationality	American
Field	Photography

Edward Steichen was a renowned American photographer, painter, and art gallery and museum curator, born in Luxembourg to Jean-Pierre Steichen and Marie Kemp Steichen. He is best known for his work with Alfred Stieglitz at the Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession and as the director of the Museum of Modern Art's (MoMA) photography department. Steichen's work was heavily influenced by Pictorialism, a style of photography that emphasized beauty and fine art, and he was also associated with the Photo-Secession movement, which included notable photographers such as Julia Margaret Cameron and Alvin Langdon Coburn. His photographs have been exhibited at institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art.

● Early Life and Training

Steichen was born in Bivange, Luxembourg, and his family moved to the United States when he was a young boy, settling in Hancock, Michigan. He began his artistic training at the Milwaukee Art Institute, where he studied painting and drawing under the tutelage of Robert Schade. Steichen's early work was influenced by the Barbizon school and the Hudson River School, and he was particularly drawn to the work of Jean-François Millet and Thomas Cole. He later moved to New York City to pursue a career in photography, where he became acquainted with notable figures such as Alfred Stieglitz and John Szarkowski.

● Career

Steichen's career in photography spanned over five decades, during which he worked with numerous notable photographers, including Dorothea Lange, Ansel Adams, and Imogen Cunningham. He was a key figure in the development of modern photography, and his work was exhibited at institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Steichen also worked as a curator, organizing exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art, featuring the work of artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Edward Hopper. His photographs have been published in numerous publications, including Vogue and Life, and he was also a contributor to the Farm Security Administration.

● Artistic Style and Contributions

Steichen's photographic style was characterized by his use of Pictorialism and his emphasis on beauty and fine art. He was particularly known for his portraits of famous subjects, including Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Steichen's work was also influenced by the Dada movement, and he was associated with artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray. His contributions to the development of modern photography were recognized by institutions such as the George Eastman Museum and the International Center of Photography, and his photographs are now held in the collections of museums such as the Tate Modern and the Centre Pompidou.

● Personal Life

Steichen was married twice, first to Clara Smith Steichen and then to Joanna Taub Steichen. He had two daughters, Mary Steichen Calderone and Kate Steichen Hokin, and was the uncle of Carl Sandburg's wife, Lillian Sandburg. Steichen was also a close friend and colleague of notable figures such as John Marin and Arthur Dove, and he was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Design. His personal life was marked by his love of nature and the outdoors, and he was an avid gardener and naturalist, often photographing the landscapes and flora of Connecticut and New York.

● Legacy

Steichen's legacy as a photographer and curator continues to be felt today, with his work remaining a benchmark for beauty and fine art in photography. His influence can be seen in the work of photographers such as Richard Avedon and Annie Leibovitz, and his contributions to the development of modern photography have been recognized by institutions such as the National Medal of Arts and the Royal Photographic Society. Steichen's photographs are now held in the collections of museums such as the Getty Museum and the National Gallery of Canada, and his work continues to be exhibited and celebrated around the world, including at the Venice Biennale and the Cannes Film Festival. Category:American photographers