May 19, 2011 - Sale 2248

Sale 2248 - Lot 213

Price Realized: $ 2,880
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,000 - $ 4,500
STEICHEN, EDWARD (1879-1973)
"The Matriarch." Oversize silver print, 32x40 inches (81.3x101.6 cm.), flush mounted to masonite; mounted to the original box frame. 1935; printed 1960s-1971
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Additional Details

A Life in Photography, 164.

Steichen made this portrait for the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies for use in a booklet soliciting financial help for the organization. Steichen writes, "This job came at a time when we were getting the news of Hitler's early humiliation of the Jews; they were made to wear arm bands, their stores were labeled, their windows were smashed. I wanted one picture as a sort of answer to this. I asked for a white-haired, strongly built woman and a huge Bible. She was brought to the studio dressed just as I photographed her in 'The Matriarch.' "