Vivian Maier
1926–2009 · United States / France
An archive far from recognition.
The story
Vivian Maier worked as a nanny while photographing consistently, especially in New York and Chicago. Passers-by, children, urban signs and self-portraits form a substantial archive. The discovery of her negatives from 2007 changed the reception of a body of work widely circulated after her death. Her career reminds us that public recognition and daily practice can follow very different timelines in the history of photography.
Understanding the work
Look for mirrors, shadows and shop windows that sometimes place the photographer within the scene. Compare colour with black and white, as well as the distances she chooses when photographing children and adults.
Key works and series
Self-portraits; the streets of Chicago and New York; colour work.
