Famous Photographers Series - Part 11 - Ilse Bing

Famous Photographers Series - Part 11 - Ilse Bing

Ilse Bing - Her most famous self-portrait, with mirrors.

From Wikipedia:

"Ilse Bing (23 March 1899 – 10 March 1998) was a German avant-garde and commercial photographer who produced pioneering monochrome images during the inter-war era.

Her move from Frankfurt [where she was born,] to the burgeoning avant-garde and surrealist scene in Paris in 1930 marked the start of the most notable period of her career. She produced images in the fields of photojournalism, architectural photography, advertising and fashion, and her work was published in magazines such as Le Monde Illustre, Harper's Bazaar, and Vogue. Respected for her use of daring perspectives, unconventional cropping, use of natural light, and geometries, she also discovered a type of solarisation for negatives independently of a similar process developed by the artist Man Ray.

Her rapid success as a photographer and her position as the only professional in Paris to use an advanced Leica camera earned her the title "Queen of the Leica" from the critic and photographer Emmanuel Sougez. In 1936, her work was included in the first modern photography exhibition held at the Louvre, and in 1937 she traveled to New York City where her images were included in the landmark exhibition "Photography 1839–1937" at the Museum of Modern Art."

Going through the lists of Famous Photographers, and looking at their works has been a fantastic experience, especially for an amateur photographer like me. I have seen the most creative and artistic photography, and I have to say that Ilse Bing, whom I never before even knew existed, has provided what I consider breathtaking originality and variety of works. I truly admire what I have seen, and here have posted 60 of her photos for the enlightenment and enjoyment of the few of you who have indicated appreciation for this series of Famous Photographers.

1.   Buzz note: She makes excellent use of shadows and surfaces, and uses unusual angles.

2.  

3.   Bodensee

4.   Patrice Avec Bateau

5.   An Avant-Garde Vision

6.   Skyscrapers

7.   Shoes for Harper's Bazaar

8.  

9.

10.   Chair, Champs Elysee, Paris

11.   It was so windy in the Eiffel Tower, 1931

12.   Empire State Building at Night

13.   Greta Garbo Poster

14.   Telegraph Wires

15.   Railway

16.   Steps

17.   Posters

 
18.  

19.   Plants

20.   Carriage, Central Park, New York, 1936

21.   Barber Shop

22.   Dead End

23.   Street Cleaners, Paris, 1947

24.   Central Park

25.   Still Life with Tulips, 1939

26.   All of Paris in a Box, 1952

27.   Eiffel Tower

28.   Queensborough Bridge Exit with One Car, New York, 1936

29.   Lamp Post, Germany, 1929

30.   Laundry, Frankfurt, Germany, 1929

31.   Mailbox, Frankfurt, Germany, 1929

32.   French Cancan, Moulin Rouge, Paris, 1931  (the first of 4 Moulin Rouge photos)

33.   Moulin Rouge Box Office, 1931

34.   Moulin Rouge Dancers, 1931

35.   Moulin Rouge Entrance, 1931

36.   Poverty in Paris, 1931

37.   Stairs, Versailles, 1931

38.   Prostitutes, Amsterdam, 1931

39.   Jewish Ghetto, Quartier St. Paul, 1932

40.   Gloves, for Harper's Bazaar, 1933

41.   Wax Museum, Paris, 1934

42.   Fountain, Place de la Concorde, 1934

43.   Gaslight, 8 Rue de Varinne, 1934

44.   Poster, Henry VIII, Paris, 1934

45.   East River, New York, 1936

46.   Streetscape, El, New York, 1936

47.   Lower East Side, New York, 1936

48.   Street Scene, New York, 1936

49.   Trapeze Artist, 1936

50.   Connecticut, 1946  (Buzz note: note the fly on the wrist)

51.   Spider Web and Stables, New York, 1951

52.   Hanging Laundry (Buzz note: The hanging of laundry is almost universal in China. Hardly anyone has a dryer appliance, as they use too much expensive electricity.)

53.   Without Illusion, Flea Market, Paris, 1957

54.   Bicyclist at Luxembourg Park, 1952

55.   Shadow Self-Portrait, 1953

56.   Rooftops, New York, 1950

57.   Although this photo was in with a series of photos I'm not entirely sure it is hers, but I think it is.

58.   Hot Dog Vendor, New York City, 1936

59.   Puppet Show, Paris

60.   Shadows. I hope this is her photo, because it's my favourite one of hers. It, too, was in a bunch of her photos but sometimes photos by other photographers get mixed in, and I could not specifically identify it.