Edward Steichen
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| Edward Steichen |
Edward Steichen, March 27, 1879 – March 25, 1973 Bivange, Luxemburg. He moved to the United States in 1881, and became a naturalized citizen in 1900.Edward Steichen became interested in photography at the age of 16. He made friends with the owner of a photography store, who helped him pick out a camera made by the Eastman Kodak Company. His Mother purchased it for him. It was a box camera, which had to be loaded in a dark room, with the capacity for 50 exposures.
He didn’t like having to take 50 pictures first, but he went ahead, and after they were developed, only one turned out clear. “Clear” was a term used at that time describing a picture where everything in the photograph could be seen clearly.
His Father thought photography was hopeless, but his Mother loved the one picture that turned out clear, which Edward Steichen had taken of his sister playing the piano.
He then took an apprenticeship with The American Fine Art Company, as a designer in a lithographic company in Milwaukee. The first year he worked for no pay, the second year, two dollars a week, the third year, three dollars a week, and the forth year, four dollars a week. This was typical German tradition.
The company made posters and show cards which were designed from a catalog of illustrations from German magazines and books.
These illustrations were not always very authentic looking, so he suggested to his manager that he take pictures to use instead of the illustrations. They went along with his idea and gave him time off to take the pictures, but he had to buy his own camera.
He went back to his friend at the camera store, and purchased a 4 x 5 Primo Folding View Camera. This camera used plates, so now he could take a single photograph at a time. Very little information was available at that time about developing negatives, but with help from his friend at the camera store, hours of trial and error, he was able to master the art of developing and making prints.
The prints he made were a success at the company where he worked. Their clients like the realism of the prints over the illustrations that they had been using.
He wanted to learn more about photography, but there was nothing available. He looked at art magazines for ideas, and also took up painting. Moonlight scenes were his favorite.
In the late 1800’s, he gathered together a group of people his age whose professions had something to do with pictures. They rented some space, hired a model, and proceeded to get some experience drawing. They also acquired the services of an old German painter, Richard Lorene, who would critique their work.
The group grew and they moved to a new location. They named their group the Milwaukee Art Students’ League. They had discussion groups about lighting, composition, and other aspects of painting and photography.
Photography was still viewed as an imitation of a painting. Most art shows were reluctant to have photographs entered, but in time photography started to become accepted.
When his four year apprenticeship ended, his salary was immediately raised to twenty five dollars a week and shortly after, it went to fifty dollars a week. This was a very good salary at that time.
During the last year at the lithographic company, he had decided to go to Paris. His Father did not think very much of the idea, but his Mother agreed to help him financially.
While on the way, he decided to stop in New York. He saw a huge advertisement on the side of a building which was designed after some work that he had done. He was very impressed and thought that New York was the center of the art world.
He stopped to visit at the New York Camera Club. Sold some pictures he had brought along for five dollars a piece.
This all happened in the spring of 1900m shortly after his 21’st birthday, and he was on his way to Paris.
In 1904, he took a photo called The Pond – Moonlight. On February 15, 2006, the picture sold for $2,928,000.00.
When that shutter clicks, anything else that can be done afterward is not worth consideration.
Edward Steichen
