While photographer Berenice Abbott has wrongly never been heralded as one of the defining giants of 20th-century photography, she is widely known, indeed celebrated, for her iconic portraits of some of the most glamorous denizens of 1920s bohemian Paris.
And although less familiar, Abbott’s photos of the deserted streets, aging tenements and rising office towers of Depression-era New York have been critically recognized as nothing short of groundbreaking. Additionally, her relatively obscure work as a science photographer has received an admiring reappraisal in recent years. Recognized for having dramatically advanced the medium’s aesthetics and techniques (earning four patents along the way), not to mention the ambition of her subject matter — the principle laws of physics — she has been favorably compared to two early masters of modernist experimentation: her mentor Man Ray and László Moholy Nagy.
In 1918, at just 19, freckled, androgynous and with cropped hair, Abbott fell in with a crowd that included the lesbian writer and illustrator Djuna Barnes and the Dadaists Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp. They encouraged her to follow them to Paris and study with the renowned sculptor Antoine Bourdelle. Unable to pay for her training, and barely surviving, Abbott took a job as Man Ray’s assistant. The miracles of the darkroom quickly converted her to photography, as did her paycheck, and Man Ray tutored her in its fundamentals.
By 1926, Abbott had set up her own studio with backing from Peggy Guggenheim, the American heiress and art patron. André Gide, Jean Cocteau, Janet Flanner and James Joyce were among the luminaries and socialites who came for sittings. Her subversive lens made for riveting portraits.
A number of Abbott’s images of New York appear to have been shot by drone or, in the technological equivalent for the day, a dirigible. They actually entailed her stationing herself precariously on the rooftops and ledges of the skyscrapers along Wall Street and Midtown.
That feat recalls the famous photograph of Abbott’s contemporary and fellow Ohioan Margaret Bourke-White taking a shot of the New York skyline astride one of the metallic eagle heads atop the Chrysler building. One can only wonder if a photograph of Abbott in a similarly heroic pose would have helped her recognition as the trailblazing documentarian she was.
Find Berenice Abbott photography on 1stDibs.
New York at Night
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in New York, NY
13.5 x 10.5 inch gelatin silver print, printed circa 1980 Framed to 26.5 x 22.5 inches Signed on verso Berenice Abbott's "New York at Night" is one ...
Silver Gelatin
Pennsylvania Station Interior Study July 14th
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in Carmel, CA
Incredible important historic photograph by one of the most famous women photographers. Excellent condition been framed since purchased. Signed in Pencil on Lower Right Recto Mat Dry...
Silver Gelatin
WASHINGTON SQUARE LOOKING NORTH
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in Portland, ME
Abbott, Berenice. WASHINGTON SQUARE LOOKING NORTH. Vintage Gelatin Silver print, 1936. Stamped verso "Federal Art Project/"Changing New York"/Photograp...
Silver Gelatin
Hoboken Ferry Terminal, Lackawanna Railroad, Barclay Street, New York
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in New York, NY
This work is offered by CLAMP in New York City.
Silver Gelatin
Edward Hopper, 1947
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Signed and numbered in pencil on recto Gelatin Silver Print Image - 18"x23", Matted - 27"x33"
Silver Gelatin
![New York Stock Exchange [Wall Street]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/berenice-abbott-1898-1991-american-photography-new-york-stock-exchange-wall-street-for-sale/a_9323/1540480207319/Abbott_Wall_Street_master.jpg?width=240)
New York Stock Exchange [Wall Street]
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin silver print mounted to museum board Signed in pencil on overmat, l.r. Photographer's 'Abbott, Maine' stamp in black ink, verso of mount 9.5 x 7.5 inches, sheet 14 x 11 inches, mount 16.625 x 13.375 inches, overmat This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York...
Silver Gelatin
Theoline, Pier 11, East River, NY
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer.
Silver Gelatin
H 18.51 in W 16.15 in D 1.38 in
Blue Martini, Milan - Architectural Color Photography
By Richard Heeps
Located in Cambridge, GB
Blue Martini, from Richard Heeps series, 'A Short History of Milan' which began in November 2018 for a special project featuring at the Affordable Art Fai...
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Silver Gelatin
H 20 in W 16 in D 0.13 in
Alaska Forest Stream - Black & White Landscape Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful black & white landscape photograph of forest trees and stream in the woods of Alaska, by Anchorage-based nature photographer George Provost (American, 20th Century). Hand signed and dated "George Provost 1989" lower right. Photograph is hand made from an 8x10 camera negative in a traditional "wet" darkroom, by the photographer. Mounted on white mat board. Unframed. Image size: 19"H x 15"W. Born in California, Provost grew up in the Bay Area. He has lived and worked in Alaska since 1987, specializing in large format, fine art, black and white photography. His work has been exhibited in over 60 exhibitions, received numerous awards, and is included in hundreds of collections, both public and private. George Provost was an Isle Royale...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
H 13.25 in W 10.5 in
Margaret Bourke-White Precisionist Steel Mill, Otis Steel Company, 1928
By Margaret Bourke-White
Located in Camden, ME
This commanding industrial photograph dates from 1928, a pivotal year in the early career of Margaret Bourke-White, and belongs to the body of work that established her as one of the...
Silver
H 18.51 in W 15.75 in D 1.38 in
Foyer IV, Milan - Italian Design Interior Architecture Color Photography
By Richard Heeps
Located in Cambridge, GB
Foyer IV, Italian interior photography from Richard Heeps series, A Short History of Milan. A Short History of Milan, began in November 2018 for a special project featured at the Af...
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Silver Gelatin
Paul Newman and Lee Marvin (Signed)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in New York, NY
Ed. 45/50, signed by Terry O'Neill. Includes black frame. Terry O’Neill CBE is one of the world’s most collected photographers with work hanging in national art galleries and privat...
Silver Gelatin
H 20.15 in W 23.75 in D 1 in
Mission San Xavier Del Bac, Tucson Arizona
By Huntington Witherill
Located in San Francisco, CA
This Photograph titled "Mission San Xavier Del Bac, Tucson Arizona" is a gelatin silver print by noted American photographer Huntington Witherill, born ...
Silver Gelatin
Kate Moss at the Donmar Warehouse in Covent Garden, London
Located in New York, NY
Ed. of 25, unframed print with framing options available. Additional sizes available upon request. As one of Britain’s longest standing press photographers, Greg Brennan has captu...
Silver Gelatin
Alfred Stieglitz, Night, New York, 1947 (after)
By Alfred Stieglitz
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite halftone print after Alfred Stieglitz (1864–1946), titled Night, New York, originates from the 1947 folio Stieglitz Memorial Portfolio, 1864–1946. Published by Twice a...
Offset
H 20.25 in W 26.25 in D 1 in
Myron Wood 1967 “Sheep, Storm, South Park, Colorado” Vintage Black & White Photo
By Myron Wood
Located in Denver, CO
"Sheep, Storm, South Park, Colorado" is a striking 1967 vintage black-and-white photograph by acclaimed Western landscape photographer Myron Wood. Capturing the dramatic beauty of Co...
Photographic Film
H 8 in W 10 in
Tina Turner
By Andy Warhol
Located in Indianapolis, IN
Andy Warhol (1928-1987) Tina Turner 1985 Unique gelatin silver print Size: 8 x 10 in (20.3 x 25.4 cm) Frame size: 16 x 17.5 in (40.6 x 44.4 cm) Unsigned Authenticated by the Authen...
Silver Gelatin
H 94.49 in W 94.49 in D 1.97 in
Black and White Photography Set of Nine
By Richard Heeps
Located in Cambridge, GB
A set of nine black and white photographs by Richard Heeps. They can be hung in a grid, or spaced out throughout your interior. Richard Heeps, primarily known as a colour photographe...
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Silver Gelatin
Alfred Stieglitz, Spring Showers, New York, 1947 (after)
By Alfred Stieglitz
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite halftone print after Alfred Stieglitz (1864–1946), titled Spring Showers, New York, originates from the 1947 folio Stieglitz Memorial Portfolio, 1864–1946. Published b...
Offset
H 19.25 in W 15.125 in
Night View, New York (aka New York at Night)
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Berenice Abbott learned photography from the artist Man Ray when she was his studio assistant in Paris in 1923-1925. It was in Paris where Man Ray introduced her to the work of Eugèn...
Silver Gelatin
Fulton Street Market, Manhattan Skyline
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in New York, NY
8 x 10 inch vintage gelatin silver print Artist stamps and pencil notations on verso
Silver Gelatin
H 15 in W 19.5 in
Herald Square, 34th Street
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in New York, NY
15 x 19.5 inch gelatin silver print, printed circa 1980 Signed and editioned on mount recto #21/60
Silver Gelatin
H 13.5 in W 10.25 in D 0.1 in
Atget
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in Denton, TX
Signed.
Silver Gelatin
H 9.75 in W 7.75 in
Designer's Window, Bleecker Street
By Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Signed on back of print with artist's stamp. Printed in the 1950's.
Silver Gelatin