Damarice Amao, Duncan Forbes, Walter Moser, Audrey Sands, Ann Thomas, Arne Reimer, Astrid Mahler, Walter Moser (Editor)
Lisette Model
Retrospective
Featuring over 200 exquisite reproductions of Model’s most iconic works, this stunning volume celebrates a mid-twentieth century visionary whose photography captured the raw, dynamic spirit of urban life and its striking social contrasts.
Lisette Model’s journey from her Viennese roots to her groundbreaking career in New York unfolds in this comprehensive collection of works spanning 1933 to 1959. Featuring her famous Coney Island Bather and Cafe Metropole photographs, as well as never-before-seen pieces, the book immerses readers in her distinctive style—equal parts confrontational and compassionate. Model’s self-taught approach to photography flourished during her years in France. Her early portraits of idle elites in Nice delivered biting social critiques, marking her as a bold new voice in visual storytelling. After emigrating to New York, her work graced the pages of Harper’s Bazaar and other leading magazines, showcasing the vivid contrasts of urban life, from the impoverished Lower East Side to high- society gatherings. Complemented by melancholic studies from her later travels to the U.S. West Coast and Venezuela, this collection underscores Model’s enduring relevance. Featuring insightful commentary from Walter Moser, this book is a must- have for photography enthusiasts and anyone intrigued by the intersection of art, history, and social critique.
Biography
Walter Moser is head of the department of photography at the Albertina in Vienna. He studied history of art in Vienna and Rome. He has curated many exhibitions, for example: Lewis Baltz (2013), Lee Miller (2015), Robert Frank (2018), Helen Levitt (2019), Faces. The Power of the Human Visage (2021), and VALIE EXPORT (2023). He is the author of many publications on photography and is guest professor at the University of Applied Arts Vienna.
Damarice Amao
Damarice Amao is associate curator for photography at the Musée National d'Art Moderne/Centre Pompidou, Paris, France.
Duncan Forbes
Duncan Forbes is Director of the Department of Photography at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Audrey Sands
Audrey Sands is associate curator of photography at the Harvard Art Museums, Boston.
Ann Thomas
Ann Thomas was the curator of photography at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, and now works as an independent curator.
Arne Reimer
Arne Reimer is a German photographer and author who has made a name for himself particularly in the field of jazz.
Astrid Mahler
Astrid Mahler is curator of photography at the Albertina in Vienna, Austria.
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