Berenice Abbott

Date of Birth: July 17, 1898

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: December 9, 1991

Biography

Berenice Abbott was an influential American photographer born on July 17, 1898, in Springfield, Ohio. Abbott is best known for her black-and-white photography of New York City architecture and urban design during the 1930s, which captured the transformation of the city during a period of rapid growth and modernization. After studying sculpture in Paris, Abbott began her photographic career in 1923 as an assistant to the surrealist photographer Man Ray. She later opened her own studio and became a pivotal figure in the documentation of Parisian intellectuals and artists. Abbott returned to the United States in 1929, where she embarked on a project to photograph New York City, inspired by the work of Eugène Atget. Her work from this period was eventually published in the book “Changing New York” (1939), which remains a seminal collection in the field of documentary photography. Throughout her career, Abbott was also an advocate for scientific photography and developed innovative techniques to capture images of scientific phenomena. Abbott’s contributions to photography have been recognized with numerous exhibitions and awards. She continued to work and innovate in photography until her death on December 9, 1991.

5 Interesting Facts about Berenice Abbott

1. Abbott was initially a sculptor and studied in Paris under the guidance of artists like Brancusi and Archipenko.

2. She played a crucial role in preserving the work of Eugène Atget by purchasing and promoting his collection after his death.

3. Abbott was a professor at The New School for Social Research in New York City, where she taught photography.

4. She was a pioneering advocate for the use of photography in science, working with the Physical Science Study Committee at MIT.

5. Abbott was an outspoken critic of the commercialization of photography, advocating for it to be recognized as an art form.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Berenice Abbott

1. “Photography helps people to see.”

2. “The camera is no more an instrument of preservation, the image a means of communication, than they are tools for self-expression.”

3. “I didn’t decide to be a photographer; I just happened to fall into it.”

4. “I am an American, and I feel as though I have a duty to preserve what is best in America.”

5. “There are many teachers who could ruin you. Before you know it you could be a pale copy of this teacher or that teacher. You have to evolve on your own.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Berenice Abbott is not well-documented, as her primary recognition came from her artistic contributions rather than financial gain. However, her works have been highly valued in art markets and institutions.