Louise Dahl-Wolfe
1895–1989 · United States
Fashion in the light of the outside world.
The story
Louise Dahl-Wolfe trained in the arts and began her photographic career before joining Harper’s Bazaar in 1936. She contributed to the development of colour fashion photography with particular attention to tonal quality. Travel, outdoor light and portraiture informed her images. Her practice combined technical rigour, a relationship with the model and an opening of fashion towards varied surroundings.
Understanding the work
Observe the relationship between clothing, setting and light. Colour can unify the scene while preserving the importance of the face and gesture.
Key works and series
Photographs for Harper’s Bazaar; portraits of models; Tennessee Mountain Woman.
Sources & further exploration
Works in collections.
8 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.
