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Edward Steichen

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Photographer

The Resume

    (March 27, 1879-March 25, 1973)
    Born in Bivange, Luxembourg
    Brother-in-law of Carl Sandburg
    Photographed 'Landscape with Avenue of Trees' (1902), 'The Pond—Moonlight' (1904), 'The Flatiron' (1905), 'Experiment in Three-Color Photography' (1906), 'Pastoral–Moonlight' (1907), 'Wind Fire' (1921), 'Isadora Duncan in the Parthenon, Athens' (1921), and 'Aircraft of Carrier Air Group 16 return to the USS Lexington (CV-16) during the Gilberts operation' (1943)
    Commanded photographic units during World War I
    Photographed for Vogue and Vanity Fair (1923-38)
    Served as Director of the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit during World War II
    Directed the war documentary 'The Fighting Lady' (1944)
    Director of Photography at New York's Museum of Modern Art (1947-62)
    Curated 'The Family of Man' exhibition (1955)
    Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1963)
    Died in West Redding, Connecticut

Why he might be annoying:

    He was married three times.
    His first wife, Clara Smith, accused him of having an affair with artist Marion H. Beckett while staying in France, which contributed to their divorce.
    His second wife, Dana Desboro Glover, was 15 years his junior.
    While living in Voulangis, he somewhat secluded himself due to his experiences in World War I and separation from his wife. (1919-23)
    After his experience in World War I regarding photography, he gave up painting as a career and burned all of his paintings. (1923)
    He had abandoned his own work during the years he worked at the Museum of Modern Art.
    Susan Sontag accused him of oversimplification and sentimentality in his 'Family of Man' exhibition without regard of the historical and socio-economic factors of the subjects.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was the most frequently featured photographer in Alfred Stieglitz's magazine 'Camera Work.'
    He helped Stieglitz introduce Americans to leading European artists as part of the 291 gallery by taking pictures of said figures.
    His photos of gowns designed by Paul Poiret were considered the first modern fashion photography shoot because they show the physical quality and formal appearance of the gowns instead of just showing the object.
    He was the most well-known and highest paid photographer during the time he worked for Vogue and Vanity Fair.
    His 'Family of Man' exhibition was a cultural masterpiece for its display of everyone's lifestyles and the shared message it sent to viewers.
    Even in his old age, he continued to develop new photographic techniques.
    He believed that photography is not just an art form, but also an important and effective tool to explain mankind to one another.

Credit: Big Lenny


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 17 Votes: 0% Annoying