Steichen: A Biography

by Penelope Niven

From his legendary association with Alfred Stieglitz in the groundbreaking 291 Gallery to his selection of photographs for The Family of Man exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, Edward Steichen (1879-1973) stood at the forefront of artistic innovation in America and Europe. Penelope Niven, biographer of Carl Sandburg (Steichen's brother-in-law), affectionately depicts her subject. She carefully assesses Steichen's three marriages, his supportive relationships with other artists, and the humanistic vision that informed his photography. Her comprehensive study reminds us of Steichen's central role in elevating photography to a crucial 20th-century art form.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Penelope Niven is the author of critically acclaimed biographies of poet Carl Sandburg and photographer Edward Steichen. Her books include CARL SANDBURG: A BIOGRAPHY; STEICHEN: A BIOGRAPHY; VOICES AND SILENCES, co-authored with the actor James Earl Jones, and praised as a classic on acting; and SWIMMING LESSONS, a memoir. Her Steichen biography has just been translated into Chinese. CARL SANDBURG: ADVENTURES OF A POET, her biography for children, was awarded an International Reading Association Prize "for exceptionally distinguished literature for children," one of six books honored among publications from 99 countries. She is presently working on a biography of Thornton Wilder, to be published in 2012 by HarperCollins.

She has been awarded two honorary doctorates, three fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Thornton Wilder Visiting Fellowship at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University, among other honors. She received the North Carolina Award in Literature, the highest honor the state bestows on an author. During the past twenty years she has lectured across the United States and in Switzerland, Canada and Wales, and has served as an editor for various publications and a consultant for television films on Sandburg, Jones, and Steichen. She has recently retired after twelve years as Writer-in-Residence at Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Penelope Niven is the mother of award-winning author Jennifer Niven (THE ICE MASTER; ADA BLACKJACK: A TRUE STORY OF SURVIVAL IN THE ARCTIC; VELVA JEAN LEARNS TO DRIVE; THE AQUA-NET DIARIES; and VELVA JEAN LEARNS TO FLY.)

Reviews

[Kinan Faham · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book should have been titled: The Marital Affairs Of Steichen and [all] his friends.

The enjoyable chapters for me covered the formative years in the 19th century before Steichen got married. Afterwards, the book went downhill and became outright unreadable.

[Pete Hendley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Covers the photographer's life extensively. It is well-written and full of detail. It's long, but well worth it.

[Richelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book for various writing samples for graduate school applications. It's a fantastic resource, but I think it includes way too much detail. Every single element of the photographer's life is recorded here, and I'm not sure that all of it is relevant or contributes much to the greater understanding of his life and legacy. The book could have been that much better had it been edited more.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Niven's book is a comprehensive biography of Steichen...one of those that at times tells you much more than you need to know. His autobiography is a more enjoyable read. But the benefit of Niven's work is that in many ways it also serves as an introduction to the history of the art of photography. I do recommend it.

[Gabriel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly enough about the art, and way too much about Steichen's domestic troubles. I also wish the author could have attained the rights to reproduce Steichen's photos. Though not the author's fault, this really detracted from the quality of the book.

[Martin Kimeldorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning in her comprehensive story telling, from rags to riches, from darkness to light. Steichen's story will inspire anyone with an interest in photography. He also worked on behalf of the great painters at the turn of the 20th century. He is Da man!