Vivian Maier: The Queen of Selfies
An exhibition review.
Palazzo Sarcinelli in Conegliano (situated about 30 minutes from Venice) currently hosts an interesting selection of Vivian Maier’s self portraits. The exhibition is entitled “Shadows and Mirrors,” which conveniently captures the photographic essence of this opus.
Vivian Maier, an enigmatic figure in the world of photography, captured the hearts of art enthusiasts with her remarkable talent. Born in 1926 in New York City, Maier led a largely private life, working as a nanny for several affluent families throughout her career. Her true passion, however, lay in capturing the world around her through the lens of her camera.
Maier’s photographic journey began in the 1950s, when she acquired her first camera, a modest Rolleiflex. Despite lacking any formal training, she possessed an innate eye for composition and an ability to capture poignant moments in everyday life. With an unyielding curiosity, she wandered the streets of Chicago, New York, and other cities, capturing candid shots of people, architecture, and urban landscapes.
It wasn’t until 2007, two years before her death, that Maier’s talent was discovered. John Maloof, a real estate agent, purchased a box of her negatives at a local auction. Astounded by the quality of the photographs, Maloof embarked on a quest to uncover the identity of the mysterious artist behind the lens. Through his efforts, Maier’s extraordinary work was finally brought to the public’s attention.
Maier’s photographs are characterized by their rawness and authenticity. She had an uncanny ability to capture the essence of human emotion and the intricacies of urban life. Her subjects varied widely, ranging from the wealthy to the marginalized, from children to the elderly. Her compositions were often beautifully framed, and her use of light and shadow added depth and drama to her images.
Today, Maier’s work is widely regarded as some of the finest street photography of the 20th century. Her photographs provide a unique window into the past, capturing moments frozen in time. Through her lens, she revealed the beauty and complexity of the world around her, offering a glimpse into the lives of people from all walks of life.
Vivian Maier’s life may have remained shrouded in obscurity, but her photographic legacy continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. Her ability to find beauty in the mundane and her unyielding dedication to her craft have cemented her as one of the most influential street photographers of her time.
One striking aspect of Maier’s self-portraits is her use of reflections. She often positioned herself in front of mirrors, capturing her own image as a reflection within a larger scene. If there was a reflective surface, Vivian would find it and make the most of it. Sometimes she would combine several layers of reflection at once. This technique adds a layer of complexity to her photographs, suggesting a sense of duality or fragmentation within her own identity. The reflections may serve as a metaphor for the various roles she played in her life, such as the nanny or the observer of society.
Another notable feature of Maier’s self-portraits is her choice of composition and framing. She experimented with different angles, capturing herself from unconventional perspectives. This unconventional approach to self-portraiture reflects Maier’s unique perspective on the world and her desire to challenge traditional norms.
Maier’s self-portraits also reveal a sense of mystery and ambiguity. She often obscures parts of her face or places herself in shadow, leaving certain aspects of her identity hidden. This deliberate concealment adds an air of intrigue to her images, leaving the viewer with a desire to uncover the enigma that was Vivian Maier.
Furthermore, Maier’s self-portraits showcase her technical prowess as a photographer. She demonstrates a mastery of light and shadow, using them to create a sense of drama and depth. The interplay of light and darkness in her self-portraits mirrors the complexities of her own personality and adds a touch of visual poetry to her images.
In many ways, Maier’s self-portraits can be seen as a form of self-exploration and self-expression. Through her photography, she grapples with her own identity and seeks to understand herself and the world around her. Her self-portraits serve as a visual diary, documenting not only her life, work, and travel but also her inner thoughts and emotions, even if she chose not to share them with the outside world.
I am extremely happy to have visited the exhibition. All of the photos are silver-gelatin prints, most likely printed by hand in a dark room. In my eyes she is the queen of selfies; mastering this genre well before it became so popular (or even pedestrian). Her approach is another level.
And Conegliano is quite a city as well. Let us conclude with a few snapshots of this charming little Italian town.
