5 Photographs by Gertrude Käsebier

/ Kimberly

Recently, I came across Gertrude Käsebier’s photography.  I don’t know a lot about her but in skimming her biography, she interested me because she obviously made some sort of pivot in her life. She was born in 1852, married at 22, and had three children. Then for some reason, went to art school when she was 37 and embarked on her own career.  By 1899, when she was 47, she was described by art promoter Alfred Stieglitz as “beyond dispute, the leading artistic portrait photographer of the day..”

Her photographs are beautiful.  There’s also a little musical accompaniment, courtesy of The Carter Family!

Pastoral, 1905. Gertrude Käsebier (American, 1852–1934). Photogravure; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum Appropriation 1995.199.10

Platinotype?: Sioux man and woman looking at camera, woman with left hand on manʼs shoulder, very warm print ..Credit: Gertrude Kasebier (Smithsonian Institution)

 Zitkala-Sa reading by windowlight; Platinotype
Credit: Gertrude Kasebier (Smithsonian Institution)

The Picture-book, 1905. Gertrude Käsebier (American, 1852–1934). Photogravure; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum Appropriation 1995.199.10.b

Mrs. Philip Lydig, 1905. Gertrude Käsebier (American, 1852–1934). Photogravure; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum Appropriation 1995.199.10.c

4 thoughts on “5 Photographs by Gertrude Käsebier”

  1. The first photograph was taken circa 1826, with images almost indiscernible. The advancement of the art by the early 1900s is obvious.

    The composition of each of Gertrude Käsebier’s subjects is outstanding. The subjects are absorbing. Her use of lighting, especially indirect lighting, contributes to the entrancing quality of the photographs. As a former photography enthusiast, including wedding photography, the pose of Mrs. Philip Lydia is especially intriguing.

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    • That’s so neat you understand how she created the overall feeling the photographs give! I don’t know anything about photographic techniques. I can feel the effect but had no idea how she created it with lighting or poses.

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