The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 23, 2024
Self-Portrait with Grandson
1902
(American, 1852–1934)
Overall: 16.4 x 15 cm (6 7/16 x 5 7/8 in.); Matted: 45.7 x 35.6 cm (18 x 14 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1999.30
Location: not on view
Description
In her personal work, Käsebier frequently celebrated motherhood and traditional family life in her asymmetrical compositions, photographed in the pictorial style, which emphasizes soft focus, platinum printing, and picturesque subject matter. Her first grandchild, Charles O'Malley, provided endless inspiration for numerous touching portraits located both in outdoor and indoor settings. In this intimate image, Käsebier relied solely on warm daylight to define the room and identify the sitter's facial features and clothing details. Her instinctive sense of design and her ability to understand the telling gesture are beautifully displayed. In addition to being widely recognized for her pictorial photographs—mostly portraits and figure studies—Käsebier was a successful commercial photographer, operating a portrait studio in New York City from around 1897 until 1927.- Shadows and Dreams: Pictorialist Photography in America. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (September 5, 2015-January 17, 2016).Icons of American Photography: A Century of Photographs from the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 24-September 16, 2007).Artists Photographing Artists. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 13, 2001-February 27, 2002).
- {{cite web|title=Self-Portrait with Grandson|url=false|author=Gertrude Käsebier|year=1902|access-date=23 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1999.30