Lillian Bassman

Lillian Bassman was an American photographer known for her distinctive black and white fashion and fine art photographs. 

Bassman began her career in the fashion industry in the 1940s, working as a fashion illustrator and then as a fashion photographer for Harper's Bazaar magazine. Her photographs were known for their dramatic lighting and strong graphic elements, and she quickly became one of the most sought-after photographers in the industry.

In the 1950s, Bassman began experimenting with photographic techniques, such as bleaching and burning the negatives, to create images that were more abstract and expressionistic. Her work during this period was characterized by its soft, dreamlike quality and its use of light and shadow to create mood and atmosphere.

Bassman's career took a hiatus in the 1970s, when she became disenchanted with the commercialism of the fashion industry. However, in the 1990s, a new generation of photographers and editors rediscovered her work and she experienced a resurgence of interest and popularity.

Throughout her career, Bassman was a pioneer in the use of female models, and her photographs often celebrated the beauty and sensuality of the female form. Her work has been exhibited extensively in galleries and museums around the world, and is represented in major collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.