“The key to artistic photography is to work out your own thoughts, by yourself. Imitation leads to certain disaster. New ideas are always antagonized. Do not mind that. If a thing is good it will survive”
~ Gertrude Käsebier
(1853-1934)
Käsebier was a pioneer female photographer and along with Alfred Steiglitz was a founding member of the Photo Secession Movement. Steiglitz thought so highly of her that he included this image in the inaugural issue of his much celebrated publication “Camera Work”. Taking her reference from the Bible this is more than just a simple Mother/Child image, subject matter she excelled in. It is also a wonderful study of shade and tone. She was summering in Newport Rhode Island and shot this photograph in a local stable. The depiction of a woman in a diaphanous white gown and veil cradling her child is a good example of the soft look of Pictorialist Photography. Her passion for portraying the beauty of motherhood led to some of her most moving photographs. As Steiglitz said.. “Beyond dispute she is the leading artistic portrait photographer of the day".
This is one of her true masterpieces.