Songs of a Pagan

by Anne Brigman (Photographer)

Brigman was an important and influential early photographer, who, in 1906, became the only photographer living west of the Mississippi to be named a Fellow of the Photo-Secession. This collection of poetry and photography was published a year before her death.

Brigman's photographs frequently focused on the female nude, dramatically situated in natural landscapes or trees. Many of her photos were taken in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in carefully selected locations and featuring elaborately staged poses. Brigman often featured herself as the subject of her images, such as "Soul of the Blasted Pine", for which she received the Birmingham Society's first silver medal. After shooting the photographs, she would extensively touch up the negatives with paints, pencil, or superimposition.

Brigman's deliberately counter-cultural images suggested bohemianism and female liberation. Her work challenged the establishment's cultural norms and defied convention, instead embracing pagan antiquity. The raw emotional intensity and barbaric strength of her photos contrasted with the carefully calculated and composed images of Stieglitz and other modern photographers.

Genres: Poetry

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1949

Reviews

[Jerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice marriage of poetry and photography. Inspiring on several levels.

[Lew Stanisława · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I were fine as a tree is fine

[Spencer Keaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. They just don’t make poetry like this anymore