Thu 16 Apr 2009
Barbara Morgan (American, 1900-1992)
Martha Graham Letter to the World, 1940
gelatin silver print
Williams College Museum of Art,
Museum purchase, Miscellaneous Gifts Fund
The dance portrayed in this beautiful photo by Barbara Morgan, was choreographed by Martha Graham in 1940. Titled Letter to the World, it was part of her “Americana Period“, and was inspired by poet, Emily Dickinson.
Morgan worked closely with Graham for several years, and was also the official photographer of the Bennington Summer School of Dance, which was the location of the premiere of Letter to the World .
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5 Responses to “Coffee Break with WCMA #2”
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Dick Swart says:
Beautiful, Sophmom! And a great connection to your recent dance experience.
The ‘gelatin silver print’ is why my B/W stuff looks so crappy while professional work has a luster, sheen and depth that define quality. Well, that, and composition, cropping, lens selection, depth-of-field, exposure selection, dark room work, an eye, and skill.
http://cidc.library.cornell.edu/adw/gelatinsilver.htm
April 14th, 2009 at 3:18 pmsophmom says:
Dick,
Your link is interesting. I’m assuming the albumen process that gelatin replaced, was based on egg white?
I really prefer black and white photography when it comes to capturing mood and nuance. Color can distract. And the ‘stretchy’ (my term) series of Martha Graham dances are especially dramatic and voluminous.
JG and I saw one of the ‘stretchy’ dances. It was Lamentations. Although it was a rehearsal, the dancer donned the tube. The whole performance takes place seated. It is very powerful.
April 14th, 2009 at 4:29 pmLarry George says:
More, please, sophmom.
April 18th, 2009 at 9:42 amsophmom says:
Thanks for the feedback, Larry. It’s nice to know Martha is appreciated. She certainly got her 15 minutes in real life, but managed only about 12 here on EB. But, like her dances, I suppose she is easily revived.
April 18th, 2009 at 10:06 amParent '12 says:
SophMom-
This photo, unlike the 1st in your coffee series, the Grant Wood for those who don’t remember, is something to savor.
It can bring forth personal memories & new reflections.
Like many works of great art, whether experienced in real time, as a member in the audience, or as a memory, represented in a photograph, it inspires awe, which cannot always be easily expressed in words.
I think Martha & Barbara Morgan are being appreciated here. Thank you for reminding us of them.
April 18th, 2009 at 10:25 am