June Leaf, Sculptress, Mabou Mines, Nova Scotia, July 18, 1975

1975

June Leaf, Sculptress, Mabou Mines, Nova Scotia, July 18, 1975, 1975. Richard Avedon (American, 1923–2004). Gelatin silver print; image: 24.4 x 19.4 cm (9 5/8 x 7 5/8 in.); paper: 25.2 x 20.1 cm (9 15/16 x 7 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Diann G. Mann and Thomas A. Mann 2019.32 © The Richard Avedon Foundation Richard Avedon’s distinctive portrait style involved photographing sitters against a plain light background. They face front, engaging directly with the photographer. Leaf, an artist married to the photographer Robert Frank, is aware of self-presentation. She has chosen to be photographed without makeup or pretension. Her arms shield her body, but she gazes directly and openly at us. The resulting image conveys the artist’s natural beauty and strong character. Richard Avedon and author James Baldwin were friends in high school and worked together on the school newspaper.