kasebier sherman photography slideshow

Photography Research

BTEC MEDIA UNIT 9: Photography Techniques

Gertrude Kasebier&

Cindy Sherman

Monday, 29 November 2010

Gertrude Kasebier

• Born 1852 in Iowa, USA• Attended art school aged 37• Very interested in mother child relationship• In 1896 became assistant to professional

photographer


Portrait of Evelyn Nesbit

1903


Alfred Stieglitz

Wrote that Kasebier was “beyond dispute, the leading artistic portrait photographer of the day.” 1899


Chief, 1901

Kasebier was fascinated by the culture of the native American people she saw in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. She was very sympathetic to their struggle and this is clear in the beautiful portraits she made of them.


Portrait of Auguste Rodin, 1905

• Kasebier traveled to Paris to photograph the reclusive artist

• The portrait emphasises the artist’s distinctive profile

• The soft focus effect was typical of her style

• Photographers at this time often tried to make their images look like drawings or paintings


Yoked and Muzzled, 1915

Some people think this photograph is a reference to the artist’s unhappy marriage.


Cindy Sherman

• Cindy Sherman was born in 1954 in New Jersey, USA.

• Her reputation as an artist is for photographing herself, often in heavy disguise

• She comments on contemporary issues, particularly the role of women in society


Untitled Film Still #14, 1978

Sherman’s Untitled Film Stills series explore the roles played by women in 1950s B movies. Often

they are victims of crime or sex objects.


Untitled #132, 1984

Sherman’s photographs can be quite shocking. She uses heavy make-up and prosthetic body parts to radically alter her appearance. In this image, she has used dramatic lighting and bold colours to add an almost horror film quality to the photograph.


Process & Technique

Gum Bichromate Technique

• 19th century process• multi-layered • creates painterly effects• printed on heavyweight paper• negative same size as print• subtle effects

Colour Photography

• 20th century process• three colour process (RGB)• creates vivid, glowing effects• printed on lightweight paper• negative can be enlarged• dramatic effects


Comparison• Both portraits of women• Women are the central subject• Both to some extent disguised• Kasebier’s portrait is a profile silhouette. • Sherman’s image is a self-portrait face on but cropped• Kasebier - flowers suggest delicacy, grace and innocence• Sherman - the red robe suggests danger and sexuality• Both artists exploit light effects to give their images added drama

Gertrude Käsebier, "Silhouette"c. 1915, Gum Bichromate Print

Cindy Sherman, “Untitled #98”1982, Colour Photograph


kasebier sherman photography slideshow

Art & Photos

cindy sherman cindy

dramatic effects

portraits of women women

glowing effects

painterly effects

light effects

innocence sherman

colour process rgb