Ruth Orkin - NOMEN: American Women Artists from 1945 to Today New York Monday, June 17, 2019 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Acquired directly from the artist’s estate by the present owner

  • Catalogue Essay

    Ruth Orkin
    Born 1921, Boston
    Died 1985, New York
    1940 Los Angeles City College

    Selected museum exhibitions: Fondazione Stelline, Milan (2014); International Center of Photography, New York (1995); University of Akron, Ohio (1979); Milwaukee Center of Photography (1978); Nikon House, New York (1974)
    Selected honors: Certificate of Merit, Municipal Art Society of New York (1984); 1st Annual Manhattan Cultural Award, Photography (1980); One of Top Ten Women Photographers in the U.S., Professional Photographers of America (1959)
    Selected public collections: Brooklyn Museum; International Center of Photography, New York; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Modern Art; New-York Historical Society

    Born in Boston, Ruth Orkin grew up in Hollywood because of her mother’s career as a silent film actress. She moved to New York City in 1943 and would achieve success as a freelance photographer, contributing to Look, Life, Ladies’ Home Journal and other magazines, and establishing herself as a portrait photographer. An American Girl in Italy, 1951, is Orkin’s most celebrated and iconic image and one of a series she took of Ninalee Craig, a fellow American traveler whom she met in Florence. Representing Craig walking down a street as men leer at her, this photograph typifies the concept of the male gaze.

11

American Girl in Italy

1951
signed, titled and dated in ink in the margin; signed in pencil on the verso.
gelatin silver print, printed 1980
16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm)

Estimate On Request

NOMEN: American Women Artists from 1945 to Today

New York Selling Exhibition 19 June - 3 August 2019