Edward Weston

(United States of America 1886–1958)

Title

Guadalupe de Rivera, Mexico

Other titles:

Portrait of Guadalupe de Rivera
Guadalupe Marín de Rivera

Year

1924, printed later

Media category

Photograph

Materials used

gelatin silver photograph

Dimensions

20.7 x 17.8cm image/sheet

Signature & date

Signed and dated l.r. original card, pencil "EW 1924" and c. verso original card, pencil ".../... 1924/ Edward Weston".

Credit

Gift of Patsy W. Asch 2000

Accession number

556.2000

Copyright

Location

Not on display

Further information

Edward Weston’s Mexican years were of great importance to him and allowed for the maturing of his vision in relation to photography. Accompanied by Tina Modotti, whose own work developed at this time, Weston experimented with pure form through monumental portraits (of which ‘Guadalupe de Rivera, Mexico’ is a classic example), images of landscapes and buildings, still-lifes and nudes.

Weston’s portraits of those he encountered in Mexico are uniformly compelling. Often taken with a hand-held camera against a plain background and with strong lighting, these images emphasise individuality, modernity and dynamism.

Guadalupe de Rivera was Diego Rivera’s wife at the time and both were among the group of people Weston and Modotti associated with. Weston described Guadalupe in his ‘Daybooks’ as ‘tall, proud of bearing, almost haughty; her walk like a panther’s, her complexion almost green, with eyes to match’.1 As he worked on the portrait, Weston wrote: ‘I am finishing the portrait of Lupe. It is a heroic head, the best I have done in Mexico; with the Graflex, in direct sunlight I caught her, mouth open, talking, and what could be more characteristic of Lupe! Singing or talking I must always remember her.’2

This later print by Weston emphasises, through the dramatic effect of light and shade, the strong lines of the face. The shape of the open mouth is echoed by the shadowed eye above and the jawline below. The diagonal of jaw to ear which runs in parallel to the nose also adds to the dynamism of this image. Outdoors, with the sun shining on her hair, this is a portrait of a remarkable woman.

1. Newhall N ed 1981, 'The daybooks of Edward Weston 1 Mexico', Aperture, New York p 26
2. ibid p 42

Bibliography (7)

Judy Annear, Photography: Art Gallery of New South Wales Collection, 'The photograph and portraiture', pg.15-31, Sydney, 2007, 28 (illus.).

Judy Annear, American Beauty: from Muybridge to Goldin, Domain, 2003, cover (illus.). no catalogue numbers

Susan Brades, Edward Weston, London, 1981, (illus.). plate no. 5

Ben Maddow, Edward Weston: Fifty Years, New York, 1973, (illus.). plate no. 112

Nancy Newhall (Editor), The Day Books of Edward Weston, I. Mexico, II. California, New York, 1981, (illus.). plate no. 8

Sotheby's New York, Sotheby's New York: Photographs, New York, 02 Oct 1996, (illus.). lot no. 199

Editor Unknown (Editor), Artweek, California, 29 Nov 1986, 5 (illus.).

Exhibition history (2)

American Beauty: from Muybridge to Goldin, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 05 Jun 2003–27 Jul 2003

What's in a face? aspects of portrait photography, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 24 Sep 2011–05 Feb 2012