Words by Pamela Sutton & Laura Zolman
Photography by Imogen Cunningham

“So many people dislike themselves so thoroughly that they never see any reproduction of themselves that suits. None of us is born with the right face. It’s a tough job being a portrait photographer.” – Imogen Cunningham

The turn of the 20th century in America was not quite ready to embrace working mothers, let alone an avante-garde photographer. Yet over the span of a 70-year career, Imogen Cunningham, with her artistic talent and willful independence, overcame the obstacles of a steeply patriarchal society, a male-dominated photography industry, and the critics of her day. Known for her botanical, nude and portrait photography, she became one of the finest and most sought after photographers in American history.

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