Frida Kahlo, Painter 3

1931

American, 1883-1976

Cunningham was a Seattle photographer and a graduate of the University of Washington, where she majored in chemistry. She apprenticed in photography with Edward S. Curtis before establishing her own photography studio in 1910. Cunningham strove to make portraits that truly captured the character of her subjects, saying that "one must be able to gain an understanding at short notice and close range of the beauties of characters, intellect and spirit so as to be able to draw out the best qualities and make them show in the outer aspect of the sitter." This photograph of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is one of many Cunningham made of her fellow artists throughout her life.

Gelatin silver print

12 1/2 x 9 3/8 in. (31.8 x 23.8 cm)

Gift of John H. Hauberg

89.28

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistoryTacoma, Washington, Tacoma Art Museum, The Innovative Photography of Imogen Cunningham from the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum, Dec. 15, 1995-Mar. 24, 1996

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, First Person Singular, May 31, 2001-Mar. 17, 2002

Published ReferencesLusford, Celina, Marisa C. Sanchez, et al. "Imogen Cunningham." Madrid: TF Editores and Fundacion MAPFRE, 2012, cat. no. 136, pg. 183

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