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Featuring over 200 exquisite reproductions of Model's most iconic works, this stunning volume celebrates a mid-twentieth century visionary whose photography captured the raw, dynamic spirit of urban life and its striking social contrasts.
Lisette Model's journey from her Viennese roots to her groundbreaking career in New York unfolds in this comprehensive collection of works spanning 1933 to 1959. Featuring her famous Coney Island Bather and Cafe Metropole photographs, as well as never-before-seen pieces, the book immerses readers in her distinctive style-equal parts confrontational and compassionate. Initially trained as a musician, Model's self-taught approach to photography flourished during her years in France. Her early portraits of idle elites in Nice delivered biting social critiques, marking her as a bold new voice in visual storytelling. After emigrating to New York, her work graced the pages of Harper's Bazaar and other leading magazines, showcasing the vivid contrasts of urban life, from the impoverished Lower East Side to high-society gatherings. Complemented by melancholic studies from her later travels to the U.S. West Coast and Venezuela, this collection underscores Model's enduring relevance. Featuring insightful commentary from Walter Moser, this book is a must-have for photography enthusiasts and anyone intrigued by the intersection of art, history, and social critique.
About the author
Damarice Amao is associate curator for photography at the Musée National d'Art Moderne/Centre Pompidou, Paris, France. Duncan Forbes is Director of the Department of Photography at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Walter Moser is head of the department of photograhy at the Albertina in Vienna.Audrey Sands is associate curator of photography at the Harvard Art Museums, Boston.Ann Thomas was the curator of photography at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, and now works as an independent curator.Arne Reimer is a German photographer and author who has made a name for himself particularly in the field of jazz.Astrid Mahler is curator of photography at the Albertina in Vienna, Austria.Duncan Forbes ist Direktor der Fotosammlung am Victoria and Albert Museum, London.Walter Moser ist Chefkurator der Fotosammlung der Albertina, Wien. Er studierte Kunstgeschichte an den Universitäten Wien und Rom. Er hat viele Ausstellungsprojekte realisiert, unter anderem: Lewis Baltz (2013), BlowUp – Antonionis Filmklassiker und die Fotografie (2014), Lee Miller (2015), FilmStills – Fotografien zwischen Werbung, Kunst & Kino (2016), Österreich. Fotografie 1970–2000 (2017), Robert Frank (2018), Helen Levitt (2019), Faces. Die Macht des Gesichts (2021) und VALIE EXPORT (2023). Er ist Verfasser mehrerer Aufsätze und Publikationen zum Thema Fotografie sowie Gastprofessor an der Universität für angewandte Kunst, Wien.Audrey Sands ist Kuratorin für Fotografie am Harvard Art Museums, Boston.Ann Thomas war Kuratorin für Fotografie an der National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, und arbeitet heute als freie Kuratorin.Arne Reimer ist Fotograf und Autor, der sich vor allem auf dem Gebiet des Jazz einen Namen gemacht hat.Astrid Mahler ist Kuratorin der Fotosammlung der Albertina, Wien.
