, Lillian Bassman
and Lillian Bassman & Paul Himmel
Lilian Bassman was born in Church Avenue, Brooklyn on June 15, 1917. She met Paul Himmel at the age of five and ten years later they decided to move in together in Greenwich Village and in 1942, they finally got married.
In 1946, Bassman became a student at Design Lab under Alexey Brodovitch and then worked with him as an art director at Bazaar and Junior Bazaar. From time to time, Bassman took pictures and published them in Junior Bazaar. Bassman would use the darkroom during lunchtime to improve her “tissuing” technique. Years later, at the age of thirty-two, eventually she became a professional photographer.
By looking at her photographs, we are transforming into the high fashion in the 50’s and 60’s. Bassman’s tireless efforts of experimenting with the shot itself as well as later in the darkroom, make her photography very distinct from others.
At the age of 94, I wish Lillian bassman good health and all the happiness that life can bring. Last year, Kate Quarfordt, an editor of NEWWORK MAGAZINE, visited Lillian to do an interview. Lillian welcomed her with a smile and said, “I may be 93 years old, but I still know what fun is, honey.” It was a very warm interview between Kate Quarfordt and Bassman along side with Lilian’s daughter, Lizzie and assistant, Stephen. Thanks to Lillian and Kate's kindness, I managed to get an autograph signed by Lillian personally, in which you can see on the last picture on this post.
If you like Bassman’s photographs, you can get her book Lillian Bassman: Women. If you want to read the interview and have poster size Lillian Bassman pictures, you could get NEWWORK MAGAZINE issue 5.
Lillian Bassman profile pictures was taken by Paul Himmel.