Ilse Bing
1899–1998 · Germany / France / United States
A small camera for shifting the viewpoint.
The story
Ilse Bing abandoned research in art history to devote herself to photography. An early adopter of the Leica, she worked in Paris for the press, fashion and her own projects. Dance, streets, objects and self-portraits are marked by an attention to formal relationships. Her work combines the agility of a portable camera with precise framing.
Understanding the work
Identify diagonals and reflections, then the ordinary details that become points of focus. Her images invite us to mentally shift the frame in order to understand its balance.
Key works and series
Self-Portrait in Mirrors; Moulin Rouge dancers; Parisian scenes.
Sources & further exploration
Works in collections.
10 recordsPhotographs to explore on museum and library websites, with titles, dates and processes. Each link opens the collection record and its image where one is available.
