Berenice Abbott
Born in Springfield, Ohio, Berenice Abbott studied sculpture in New York before moving to Paris in 1921. From 1923-35 she worked as an assistant to Man Ray, who allowed her to use his studio for portrait work. Abbott established her own studio in Paris in 1926 and commenced photographing many of the literary and artistic notables of the day including Jean Cocteau and James Joyce. Joyce’s publisher, Sylvia Beach, considered that “to be ‘done’ by May Ray or Berenice Abbott meant you rated as somebody”. Abbott photographed Joyce on several occasions and also photographed his wife Nora and daughter Lucia. www.whytes.ie This particular portrait is the most iconic image of Joyce in manhood and certainly the most celebrated of Abbott’s works. It is held among many esteemed collections worldwide including the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. www.whytes.ie
