WESTON EDWARD (1886 1958) Mother in Tropico [Mary Weston Sea

Sale 2124 - Lot 64

Unsold

Estimate: $ 7,000 - $ 10,000

WESTON, EDWARD (1886-1958)
"Mother in Tropico" [Mary Weston Seaman]. Silver print, 6 3/4x4 3/4 inches (17.1x12 cm.), with Weston's signature, in pencil, on recto, and penciled notations, in an unknown hand, on verso. Circa 1916-17

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Additional Details

An early portrait by Weston depicting his sister, Mary (May) Weston Seaman. See: A Photographer's Love of Life, 33. The inscription was apparently written by one of Seaman's children.

Edward Weston began his photography career as a commercial photographer -- first with hopes of becoming an itinerant photographer, and then as the owner of a portrait studio in Tropico, California. However, as evident in this jaunty portrait of his sister May, his early commercial work was also a creative outlet.

The portraits are imbued with a distinct style (what he called "high key portraiture") which only used the upper portions of the grey scale. Here May's patterned dress and hat demonstrate Weston's eye for texture and composition; her direct gaze attests to her close relationship with Weston, but also to his ability to draw out his subjects.

Throughout his career, Weston found portraiture to be both captivating and frustrating. The business demanded hard work and prevented him from other personal photographic pursuits. Despite this difficulty, Weston still found time to exhibit in Pictorialist salons around the country. While he would continue to operate as a portrait photographer (he opened a studio with Tina Modotti in Mexico), however, he became singularly devoted to positioning himself as a fine art photographer. He received the first Guggenheim grant awarded to a photographer, this and other successes also allowed him more financial freedom.