Imogen Cunningham (1883-1976) was an American photographer and one of the pioneering figures of modernist photography. Her work focused on a range of subjects, including still life, portraiture, and landscape, and she is particularly known for her striking images of flora and the human form.
Cunningham was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1883, and grew up in Seattle. She became interested in photography as a teenager and went on to study at the University of Washington and the Technische Hochschule in Dresden, Germany. In 1910, she moved to San Francisco and began working as a portrait photographer.
In the 1920s, Cunningham became involved with the Group f/64, a group of photographers that included Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, who were dedicated to promoting photography as a fine art and developing a pure, unmanipulated style of photography. Cunningham's work from this period includes striking images of flowers, nudes, and portraits, which often emphasized unusual angles and cropping to create a sense of dynamic tension.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Cunningham continued to experiment with new techniques and subjects, producing images that combined her technical mastery with a deep sensitivity to her subjects. She also became interested in documentary photography, capturing scenes from everyday life and social issues.
Cunningham's work was widely exhibited and celebrated, and she received numerous honors and awards throughout her career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1963. She continued to work and teach until her death in 1976, at the age of 93.
Some of Cunningham's most important works include "Magnolia Blossom" (1925), "Two Callas" (1929), "Triangles" (1928), and "The Unmade Bed" (1957). These images are characterized by their strong composition, technical mastery, and deep emotional resonance, and they continue to inspire and influence photographers today.