The Albertina Museum in Vienna has opened a comprehensive retrospective exhibition celebrating the work of Lisette Model (1901-1983), one of the most internationally influential photographers of the 20th century. Starting Thursday, the exhibition showcases 154 photographs spanning from 1933 to 1959, offering visitors an extensive look at the artist's groundbreaking career.
The exhibition features both Model's most iconic works and previously unseen photographs, providing a complete picture of her artistic evolution. Among the displayed pieces are legendary images such as the bather at Coney Island and the singer at Café Metropole, alongside lesser-known works and photographs that have never been exhibited before. This comprehensive selection demonstrates the breadth and depth of Model's photographic vision.
Model's journey to photography was unconventional, as she initially pursued musical training before discovering her true calling. Living in France from the mid-1920s, she became a self-taught photographer and created her breakthrough work in 1934 with a portrait series of wealthy idlers in Nice. These photographs caused a sensation in the heated political climate of the time, serving as biting social criticism that established her reputation as a fearless documentarian of society's contradictions.
In 1938, Model emigrated to New York, where she quickly established herself in the art scene as a freelance photographer for influential magazines including Harper's Bazaar. Her work captured the stark contrasts of urban life with remarkable skill and sensitivity. She photographed the poor population of the Lower East Side while also documenting the Upper Class at their leisure activities, creating a comprehensive portrait of New York's social spectrum. Her images of the vibrant nightlife in bars and jazz clubs became particularly celebrated for their energy and authenticity.
During the late 1940s and 1950s, Model expanded her geographic scope, creating extensive bodies of work outside New York. Her photographs from the West Coast of the United States and Venezuela were characterized by a darker, more somber mood that reflected the changing times. These later works demonstrated her ability to adapt her vision to different environments while maintaining her distinctive perspective on human nature and social dynamics.
Political repression during the McCarthy Era forced Model to pivot her career, launching her second highly influential phase as an educator. Despite facing professional challenges, she became a renowned photography teacher, mentoring numerous students who would go on to become significant photographers themselves. Her teaching philosophy emphasized the importance of personal vision and emotional honesty in photography.
After decades of efforts to publish her work, the prestigious Aperture publishing house finally released Model's first monograph in 1979. The Albertina exhibition presents the original design of this publication for the first time, showcasing what has become a classic among photography books. This rare display offers insight into the careful curation and presentation of Model's life's work, highlighting the artistic choices that made the monograph so influential in the photography world.
