Edward Steichen

American
Photographer
(1879-1973)
■ Edward Steichen (March 27, 1879 - March
25, 1973) was an American photographer,
painter, and art gallery curator, born in
Bivange, Luxembourg.

■ His family moved to the United States in 1881

and he became a naturalized citizen in 1900.
■ Having established himself as a fine art painter in the
beginning of the 20th century, Steichen assumed the
pictorialist approach in photography and proved
himself a master of it. In 1905, Steichen helped create
the Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession with
Alfred Stieglitz.

■ After World War I he reverted to

straight photography, gradually moving into
fashion photography. Steichen's 1928 photo of
actress Greta Garbo is recognized as one of the
definitive portraits of Garbo.
■ During World War II, he served as Director of
the Naval Photographic Institute. His war
documentary The Fighting Lady won the
1945 Academy Award for Best Documentary.
■ After the war, Steichen served until 1962 as
the Director of Photography at New York's
Museum of Modern Art.
■ Among other accomplishments, Steichen is
appreciated for creating The Family of Man in 1955,
a vast exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art
consisting of over 500 photos that depicted life, love
and death in 68 countries.

■ As had been Steichen's wish, the exhibition was

donated to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is
now permanently housed in the Luxembourg town of
Clervaux. [1]
 The Pond Moonlight
■ In February 2006, a copy of Steichen's early
pictorialist photograph, The Pond-Moonlight
(1904), sold for what was then the highest price ever
paid for a photograph at auction, U.S. $2.9 million.
■ Steichen took the photograph in
Mamaroneck, New York The photo features a
wooded area and pond, with moonlight appearing
between the trees and reflecting on the pond.
■ Only three known versions of the Pond-Moonlight
are still in existence and, as a result of the hand-
layering of the gums, each is unique.
Famous Images
Greta Garbo
Pond Moonlight
Marlene Deitrich, 1934
Avocados
Maypole
Parthenon
 In His Own Words
“Every ten years a man
should give himself a
good kick in the
pants.”
Edward Steichen

“Once you really

commence to see
things, then you really
commence to feel
things.”
Edward Steichen
 Key Facts: Edward Steichen

■ 19th/20th Century American photographer

■ “Pond Moonlight”: $2.9 million dollars.
■ Famous photo of Greta Garbo
■ Created “Family of Man” Exhibit in 1955.
■ Director of MoMA in NYC from WWII to
1962.