Anne brigman untitled 1912010542)

Anne Brigman (1869-1950) was an American photographer and one of the most important figures in the development of Pictorialism, a photographic movement that aimed to elevate photography to the level of fine art. She is best known for her landscape and nude photographs, which she often posed for herself. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Brigman and her family moved to California when she was sixteen. She became interested in photography in her twenties and began photographing the Sierra Nevada mountains, where she spent much of her time hiking and camping. Her photographs were heavily influenced by the Romantic movement and often featured misty landscapes and ethereal figures. Brigman's work was first exhibited at the Camera Club of San Francisco in 1900 and she quickly gained recognition for her unique style. She was a member of the Photo-Secession group founded by Alfred Stieglitz, and her work was included in several of their exhibitions. She also published a book of her photographs entitled 'Songs of a Pagan' in 1909. Despite her success, Brigman was criticised for her use of nudity in her photographs. At the time, nude photography was considered scandalous and immoral, but Brigman defended her work as a celebration of the human form and a rejection of social norms. Brigman continued to photograph throughout her life, but became less active in the art world after the 1920s. She died in 1950, aged 81. Today, her photographs are highly regarded for their artistic and technical merit and are held in museum collections around the world.