1936 My Father at Ninety Photograph by IMOGEN CUNNINGHAM (printed later) For Sale

DATE: 1936 (printed later)PHOTOGRAPHER:Imogen Cunningham(see bio below) Blind stamp and chop from the Imogen Cunningham TrustPROCESS: Gelatin SilverSIZE: Board measures11" x 14" and mounted photo measures 7.25" x 9.25"CONDITION: See photosSHIPPING: Shipping cost is non-negotiable, please consider it when offerding/buying.COMBINED SHIPPING: Yes, I do combine shipping. Additional shipping per item is 20% of the lower shipping cost [For example, if 2 items are purchased that have a $30 and $10 shipping cost each, the combined shipping cost becomes $32 for the 2 items]. If offerding/buying more than 1 item, please wait for an invoice with combined shipping before Cunningham (1883–1976) was a pioneering American photographer whose career spanned seven decades and helped define the trajectory of modern photography. Born in Portland, Oregon, she was inspired to pursue the medium after seeing the work of Gertrude Käsebier in 1901. After studying chemistry at the University of Washington to better understand the technical aspects of the darkroom, she traveled to Dresden, Germany, on a scholarship to further her studies in photographic chemistry. Upon her return to Seattle in 1910, she opened her own portrait studio, gaining early acclaim for her Pictorialist style, which was characterized by soft-focus, romanticized compositions and staged allegorical themes.By the 1920s, Cunningham’s aesthetic shifted dramatically toward "straight photography," a movement that favored sharp detail and realistic subjects over the ethereal qualities of her earlier work. During this period, she began her famous series of botanical studies, using a large-format camera to capture the intricate, sculptural forms of plants like magnolias and calla lilies. These images, noted for their precision and sensual geometry, became some of her most enduring contributions to the medium. In 1932, her commitment to this clear, unmanipulated style led her to become a founding member of Group f/64 alongside Edward Weston and Ansel Adams, a collective that advocated for maximum depth of field and technical purity.Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Cunningham expanded her portfolio to include commercial work for *Vanity Fair*, capturing iconic portraits of Hollywood figures like Cary Grant and Joan Blondell. Despite her success in portraiture, she remained a versatile artist, documenting the streets of San Francisco, the Beat Generation, and the changing social landscape of the mid-20th century. Her late-career project, *After Ninety*, showcased her enduring curiosity by focusing on the dignity and character of the elderly. Imogen Cunningham continued to photograph until her death at age 93, leaving behind a legacy as a fierce advocate for photography as a fine art and a trailblazer for women in the field.

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