When I Grow Up...

...I want to be Lillian Bassman
 

Portrait of Lillian & Interview by Renée Jacobs

I first posted about this amazing photographer just over a year ago, her haunting black & white fashion images are a true source of inspiration. Over the weekend I read a wonderful interview with the 93 year old icon in Focus Magazine. It was fascinating to read about her early beginnings in a field so dominated by men at the time she began. I also found it striking that she manipulated a lot her final images in the darkroom as we do with Photoshop today. So ahead of her time.

"I had a desire, and this is without knowing photography, to soften the image, to eliminate what I thought was unimportant in the image."

"I was in car riding parrallel to her and we were driving 25 or 30mph, then 50!"

 "Eventually when you get it to the point where you want it, there's a real sense of excitment. I still love to photograph"

Lillian is known for her b/w but I discovered this stunning color image of Suzy Parker via this incredible photostream. It is an amazingly comprehensive collection of vintage fashion images. Sets are sorted by models, designers and photographers, including a fantastic archive of Lillian's work. I think the key to staying young is to never stop learning. I love that Lillian is now dabbling in digital and working with her images on a computer, "...learning how to retouch and play." 

I mentioned this book of Lillian's work before and it is worth the small splurge. You can also collect Lillian's original work, she is represented by the Staley ♦ Wise Gallery.

 I found Focus through the Zinio iPad app , it also available for download for either your iPad or iPhone via iTunes, or look for it at Boarders or Barnes & Noble. I got it mainly for the article on Lillian but found lots of other interesting articles and plenty of beautiful images. 

first photo © Renée Jacobs all other photos © Lillian Bassman & content © Lara Rossignol

Paper Dolls for the Modern Girl

As a child, I lovedpaper dolls and labored for hours carefully cuttingthem out from the pages ofMc Calls and  paper doll books till I had a shoe box full of them. So when I saw these lovely creations by Australian born artist Joan Pitman in this monthsFrankie, I was smitten.

Pitman was born in 1917 and studied art in the early 30s going on to teach and work in theater production. Using water colors, she created these figures of Hollywood icons and wardrobes when she was just 14. Never published, they were passed down through family members and then donated to theTasmanian Museum and Art Gallery after her death in 2004. 

They have produced a limited edition of four paper doll icon sets includingMarlene Dietrich,Jean Harlow,Katharine Hepburn andClaudette Colbert for 14.95 each. 

I then discovered this promising looking offering coming out in November by artistEmily Martin available for pre-order fromAmazon. Can't wait? Check out her wonderfuletsy store and she just created thisnew set of dolls below...so cute. I especially love herLost on the Midway, carnival series. 

 

all content © Lara Rossignol