Lillian Bassman was a fashion photographer and art editor at Harper's Bazaar in the 1950s - 1970s, renowned for her high contrast images of society women, actresses and models. Bassman's later reworking of her early negatives in the 1990s established her as a modernizing figure in fashion photography. A selection of photographs from both periods of her career will be on display at Atlas Gallery in London.
Bassman's work was significant in emphasizing the power of elegance, mystery and gesture in fashion. Her prints, developed in high contrast and carefully overexposed, are abstract, luminous, soft yet captivatingly dramatic. In an industry dominated by men, Bassman's singular contribution provided a fresh perspective. The women in her photographs are self-contained, visibly enjoying their own space and presence.
