| American photographer Date of Birth: 17.07.1898 Country: USA |
Berenice Abbott, an American photographer, was born in Springfield, Ohio. She pursued journalism at Ohio University before relocating to New York City. In Greenwich Village, she dabbled in art and performance while working as a waitress and actress.
In 1921, Abbott traveled to Paris, where she lived until 1929. She served as Man Ray's assistant from 1923 to 1925 before establishing her own studio. Inspired by Eugène Atget, she adopted a principle of never seeking commissions or advertising her services.
Abbott became renowned as a portraitist of intellectuals, capturing images of Joyce, Cocteau, and André Gide. Her circle included Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray.
Returning to the United States in 1929, Abbott embarked on a project to photograph New York City in the style of Atget. Her 1934 exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York garnered critical acclaim and support from the Federal Arts Project.
Elizabeth McCausland, an art critic, became Abbott's close friend and co-author. Their joint exhibition, "Changing New York," at the Museum of the City of New York in 1937, showcased Abbott's iconic photographs.
Speculation surrounds Abbott's sexual orientation, with her presumed relationships with female artists and writers. Elizabeth McCausland remained her most significant romantic partner. Abbott lived out her later years in Maine, continuing to photograph, teach, and write. Her work has been widely celebrated through exhibitions and publications, firmly establishing her as one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century.