Editorial Review

It's hard to imagine a young woman born in 1883, in the middle of the repressive Victorian era, who possessed absolutely none of the prissy, small-minded modesty of the 19th century. But that is Imogen Cunningham at age 23 in 1906, shooting a nude self-portrait in which "the smooth skin of her shoulders, derrière, and legs glows within the darker context" of the weedy landscape where she is sprawled. There is no artifice about the picture, but her pale form is nonetheless transformed into a "floating arcadian Venus," as author Richard Lorenz aptly describes the image. Most of Cunningham's nudes are identified by name: Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful, Beautiful,Creative
Plates 66 and 67 alone make this collection outstanding, but there is more--much, much more--to justify enthusiasm for this volume.The two pictures I just cited are of the artist's young sons, asleep, showing their heads, faces turned to the side.The design created by the ensemble of their heads, texture (they are very fair, showing heavy freckling), and intrinsic wonderfulness of the subject matter create two outstanding photographs.
"You might say I invented the nude."
A bold statement for her to make, even when limited to the photographic nude. Earlier photos of people without clothes generally served scientific purposes (like Muybridge's), or salacious ones. The artistic, even abstract photographic nude may in fact be Cunningham's invention.
Before Her Time
Imogen Cunningham brings to light an eye for the simplest beauty.The photographs contained within this book are diverse with studies in children, families, the male nude, the female nude, textures in nature and some in more familiar home environs.I am particularly fond of her portraits in the book as well as her fleshier pieces.She has absolutely beautiful composition and creates incredible foils for the human skin to be set off by.I love to use the book's photographs for reference when I am painting.It is an essential in my collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    2. Individual Photographer    3. Photo Essays    4. Photoessays & Documentaries    5. Photography    6. Subjects & Themes - Erotica    7. Individual photographers    8. Photographs: portraits    9. Photography / Individual Photographer   

Subjects:  1. 1883-1976    2. Artists, Architects, Photographers    3. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    4. Cunningham, Imogen,    5. Essays    6. Individual Photographer    7. Photo Essays    8. Photography    9. Photography, Artistic    10. Cunningham, Imogen   

Reviews (2)

Imogen without End--
I can remember shedding some tears when Ms. Cunningham died.She was a hero of mine in the 70's when I was in college studying photography.This is a good overview of her work.Ms. Cunningham was never the greatest photographer of her generation, or any other.However, some of her photography is great.No, what made Ms. Cunningham great was the amazing length of her career and her willingness, until nearly the end of her life, to extend herself and experiment with new things.How many photographers have basically petered out when they have achieved some fame, to spend decades just printing their old work?Not Imogen--she indeed spoke with some bitterness near the end of her life about the unrecognized years in her career.She was unique, particularly for today--a woman who practiced environmental portraiture, going to people's homes and businesses to photograph them.She lived a lifestyle close to penury, yet her life can serve as an illustration to all of us exactly how little having money means to full and rich life.For me growing up, she showed how the love of photography can be separated from the preciousness of 'fine art'--all the while creating fine art.I'd recommend as a companion to this book, the volume "Portrait of Imogen", long out of print.It was compiled by Judy Dater, herself a fine photographer.It is a book of interviews with Imogen's contemporaries and a great insight into this complicated personality.In the end, and particularly after nearly thirty years since her death, Ms. Cunningham still earns notice as one of photography's greatest personalities.

An adventure
Ideas Without End provides a great introduction to Imogen Cunningham's work. It includes a short biography, but focuses mainly on the plethora ofbeautiful pictures, showing a wide selection of them. Cunningham's photosare the kind that draw you into them, and bring you to the realization thata flower is so much more than just a flower, that there is more to a bodythan just nudity, and that everyday items possess a beauty of their own.The format is a bit unhandy, but the contents more than make up for that.In short, the book is an experience not to be missed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1883-1976    2. Biography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Cunningham, Imogen,    5. General    6. Photographers    7. Photography    8. Photography, Artistic    9. United States    10. Biography & Autobiography / General    11. Individual photographers    12. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (1)

Insightful introduction, high quality reproductions of work
The introduction by Margery (sp?) Mara is an insightful, readable biographic sketch as well as an introduction to Cunningham's major works.She provides some descriptions of the photographer's changing visual philospophy as well as a personal characterization that illuminates many of the photos, which are faithfullly reproduced.The visual impact of the photos is tremendous.The character of the subjects portrayed shines through ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Photography, Artistic    2. Portrait photography   

Reviews (1)

Eclectic Styles and Some Riveting Portraits
The superb essay by Richard Lorenz explains the genesis of Ms. Cunningham's career, the influences on her work, how her styles developed, how she sought work, and the challenges that she faced as a person and as an artist.The essay is of such quality that it raises the overall value of the book.Two of Ms. Cunningham's weaknesses were tendencies to misuse shadow and to blur where clarity would have worked better.Many of the images in this book are marred by these routine flaws.On the other hand, there are enough rewarding works to make owning this volume a treat.You will probably find yourself strongly favoring a third of the images over the rest.If you are a fan of her nude work, I think you will find many of the portraits disappointing.I did like them better than the floral images she produced.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural & Industrial    2. Artistic photography    3. Individual Photographer    4. Individual Photographers And Their Work    5. Photo Essays    6. Photoessays & Documentaries    7. Photography    8. Photography, Artistic    9. Portrait photography    10. Individual artists    11. Photographs: portraits   

Subjects:  1. Photo Essays    2. Photography    3. Photography, Artistic    4. Portrait photography    5. Portraits    6. Photographic reportage   

Subjects:  1. Cunningham, Imogen   

Subjects:  1. 1883-1976    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Correspondence    5. Cunningham, Imogen,    6. General    7. Individual Photographers And Their Work    8. Photographers    9. Reference    10. United States    11. Cunningham, Imogen    12. Individual artists    13. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (1)

Never surpassed--
This is one of the treasures of my personal library--I own two copies.A necessary primer for those who love and appreciate the life and work of Imogen Cunningham.A much-younger acquaintance of Ms. Cunningham, after her death in the mid-seventies Ms. Dater compiled this book of interviews with contemporaries of Imogen.It is remarkable in its depth and its insight into a very complicated woman.Imogen Cunningham's work has always been intertwined with her amazing length of photographic practice (starting prior to 1900) and her unique and engaging personality.Far more than any other biographical work, this book gives a total literary portrait.I can't think of any other biography I've owned that matched this book.It's such a shame this book is out of print--buy one if you can.You'll love it regardless of your appreciation of Cunningham's work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1883-1976    2. Art    3. Biography    4. Cunningham, Imogen,    5. Photographers    6. Photography, Artistic    7. United States   

Subjects:  1. Cunningham, Imogen    2. Dogs    3. Dogs in art    4. Individual Photographers And Their Work    5. Photography of dogs    6. Pictorial works    7. Richardson, David   

Reviews (3)

Incredible photographer!Inferior Printing!!
Out of all of the members of the famous Group f/64, Imogen Cunningham created the greatest body of floral still life work.This beautiful collection of images has been totally undermined by a horrible press run.It's a surprise that Bulfinch would even put their name on this book.Aperture should have probably printed it.Granted, the book has a gorgeous design, and the body of work chosen for the book is definitely of her greatest masterpieces.But, when all is said and done, the print is solely the photographer's art, and poor reproductions of a photograph, especially a "Group f/64" style photograph, renders the art ineffective.

Great Choices of Subjects Marred by Poor Printing
Imogen Cunningham is one of my favorite photographers.So I was very disappointed when I saw the reproduction quality of the 92 duotone plates, 59 black-and-white photographs, and 8 color images.The ink is very heavy and dark on these succulent morsels, and almost all the images look like they are of vegetation from the vicinity of Mount St. Helens just after the eruption. Imogen's Imagination Floweth Over Again
The pictures are exquisite, her mind was constantly creating, and of course, her lens was always capturing... Imogen Cunningham has done it again with another magnificent collection of her images of life. Amust-have for any Cunningham collector... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Individual Photographer    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photoessays & Documentaries    4. Photography    5. Individual photographers    6. Photographs: collections    7. Photography / Individual Photographer    8. Plant life: general   

Subjects:  1. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    2. Individual Photographers And Their Work    3. Modernism (Art)    4. Photo Essays    5. Photography    6. Photography, Artistic    7. United States   

Subjects:  1. Individual photographers   

Subjects:  1. 1883-1976    2. Catalogs    3. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    4. Cunningham, Imogen,    5. Exhibitions    6. Individual Photographer    7. Individual Photographers And Their Work    8. Photography    9. Photography, Artistic    10. Poetry    11. Cunningham, Imogen   

Subjects:  1. Cunningham, Imogen   

Subjects:  1. Cunningham, Imogen    2. Exhibitions    3. Photography, Artistic