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
old spirituals 