Defining Eye: Women Photographers of the 20th Century

Photographic portrait of a light-skinned adult woman seated and gazing directly at the viewer. She is elegantly dressed in dark clothes and a tall, elaborate bonnet. Rich tonalities pick out the sheen of the fur muff, plush of the velvet coat, and delicate mesh of the veil.
Oct 07, 1999, to Sep 09, 2000

In the exhibition Defining Eye: Women Photographers of the 20th Century, 80 of this century’s most accomplished photographers depict the multifaceted roles and aspirations of women in contemporary society. Eighty-one photographs, most of which are vintage prints and include many that have never been published, are on view at NMWA from October 7, 1999, to January 9, 2000.

The exhibition takes its themes from the vision of collector Helen Kornblum, a psychotherapist who has for almost two decades studied and supported the work of women photographers. All of the work in the exhibition is from her collection. According to Kornblum, “The subject matter that captured my interest was art about the human condition, issues of identity, relationships…it’s obvious that women live a different experience in the world.”

Women photographers of the 20th century are innovators and independents, breaking both social and artistic boundaries. Quickly recognized as a “democratic” medium, photography was taken up by many women. The exhibition includes works by Berenice Abbott, Diane Arbus, Nan Goldin, Gertrude Käsebier, Dorothea Lange, Tina Modotti, Ruth Orkin, Cindy Sherman, Hannah Wilke, and Carrie Mae Weems, all of whom have made lasting contributions to the history of art and photography.

The exhibition speaks of the complex relationships among women, their environment, and their inner lives. Through documentary photography, photojournalism, portraiture, still life, self-portraiture, and constructed tableaux, the artists define the world and the self, often giving voice to those who are otherwise not heard and questioning traditional notions of identity.

A view of a gallery space. A black-and-white photograph is hanging on one wall. On the opposite wall, it says in large letters: "Defining Eye: Women Photographers of the 20th Century"

Installation view of Defining Eye: Women Photographers of the 20th Century

The Artist,

Berenice Abbott

Berenice Abbott is recognized as the originator of documentary photography or photojournalism. No other photographer had yet envisioned it as a tool of realistic documentation.
A black-and-white photograph of a light-skinned adult older woman wearing a long winter coat and white knitted cap. She has short hair and stands against a backdrop resembling a cloudy sky with her hands in her pockets.

The Artist,

Lola Álvarez Bravo

Dolores (Lola) Álvarez Bravo was one of Mexico’s first professional women photographers, documenting daily life in Mexico and portraying an array of international leaders.
Soft-focus black-and-white studio portrait of the head of a light-skinned young adult woman in profile. Her curly dark hair is pulled back in a low bun.

The Artist,

Esther Bubley

Esther Bubley was a photojournalist renowned for her revealing images of the United States and its people in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s.
A black-and-white photograph of a light-skinned young woman with medium-length dark hair and thick bangs. She is depicted standing outdoors in front of a building. She wears a coat and holds a large camera.

The Artist,

Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin creates uncomfortably personal photographs that shatter traditional notions of fine art photography.
Black-and-white photograph of the artist Nan Goldin, who has light skin tone, dark curly hair that frames her face. She is resting her right hand on her chin as she looks head on.

The Artist,

Graciela Iturbide

Graciela Iturbide’s photographs reveal the daily lives, customs, and rituals of Mexico’s underrepresented native cultures.
A black-and-white photograph of an adult woman with short, dark hair looking into the viewfinder of a small film camera. She is outdoors with grass behind her. She holds the camera with her right hand and focuses the lense with her left. She is smiling as she looks into it.

The Artist,

Gertrude Käsebier

Gertrude Käsebier was a leading member of the pioneering photographic movement known as Pictorialism, which emphasized a subjective, painterly approach to photography.
A sepia-toned photograph of a light-skinned adult woman. Standing against a wall, she dons a large black hat with a feather in the brim. She wears a dark dress with a white collared shirt and a long baggy dark coat. She places her left hand on the wall beside her.

The Artist,

Cindy Sherman

Through her photographs, Cindy Sherman examines women’s roles in society and questions the ways in which the viewer looks at and identifies with the women she portrays.
A black-and-white photograph of a light-skinned adult woman with medium-length straight blonde hair. She wears a dark colored long sleeved shirt. Shown from her mid-section up, she stands in front of a brick wall and glances to the side.

The Artist,

Barbara Morgan

Barbara Morgan is best known for her photography of dancers, demonstrating an understanding of and empathy for her subject.
A black-and-white photograph of a light-skinned adult woman standing against a white backdrop and holding a large, antique camera in her hands at an angle. She gazes to the side and has dark, wavy hair and wears a collared, buttoned jacket and slacks.