Portraits of Icons Like Greta Garbo and Gershwin, Plus Rare Documents

The exhibition 『Edward Steichen: Light and Shadow of the Modern Age, 1923-1937』, which began its global tour in 2007 at the Jeu de Paume in Paris, garnered significant attention for its modernist photographic vision. Now, in the year marking the 40th anniversary of Steichen's passing, it has finally arrived in Japan.

Edward Steichen, who grew up in America, was based in Paris in his twenties, where he gained acclaim for his portraits of artists like Rodin. Concurrently, he maintained a studio in New York, working as a portrait photographer. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 led to his return to the U.S., where he enlisted in the army and pioneered aerial photography.


The exhibition also features portraits of icons of the era, such as actress Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo, and composer George Gershwin, taken by Steichen for Vanity Fair during his early career as a master portraitist. Original prints with raw printing instructions are also presented, alongside the magazines in which they were published, offering a glimpse into the dramatic evolution of not only photography but also overall magazine layout during this period.

If the prosperous 1920s following World War I represented the "light" in American society, then the 1930s, marked by the Great Depression and economic downturn, were the "shadow." Throughout these contrasting times, Steichen consistently captured the beauty of people and the glamour of their lives. His golden-age photographs, imbued with a striking beauty and modernity, continue to captivate viewers across the passage of time.