The Dancer and the Dance
Imogen Cunningham, "Martha Graham, 1931."
The last post got me thinking about how one art represents another — as in photographs of musicians there or photographs of dancers here. In this case photography seems to submit to dance: the lighting that may have been artistically manipulated instead looks like simple stage lighting. Graham doesn’t look “posed” by Cunningham, but rather in character for her choreography. Graham fills, and even exceeds, all the available space.
Yet the strong lighting on that upturned face and forceful hands is the photograph itself; it is really a shared spotlight for both women. In an interview Cunningham said that women are easier to photograph because you can “do” more to them. She noted that not every subject can inspire a great portrait. This portrait seems pared down to essentials, and in Graham Cunningham found a model overflowing with sheer vitality. Both photographer and dancer are on beautiful display in this image, but somewhat obscured as well. With her eyes closed, Graham seems to deny us some part of herself — just as Cunningham reduces her technique until it seems almost invisible.
The audio interview with Cunningham that I refer to is posted on MoMA’s website.
In: dance, photography, portraiture · Tagged with: dance photography, Imogen Cunningham, Martha Graham