Gender and art

Margaret Bourke-White. Boy with a hammer, Magnitogorsk, Soviet Union 1931.

In the male-dominated world of early twentieth-century photojournalism, Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971) was a striking exception to the rule. She was the first woman to work for Fortune and Life magazine. In Russia, she photographed a smiling Stalin and in Georgia the aged mother of the dictator. In 1941, when the first German bombs fell on Moscow, Bourke-White was the only foreign photojournalist in the city. Fearlessly, she covered the work of medical teams behind the front line. Many of her images are unforgettable, like the ones she took following the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp by American troops. This exhibition comprises over 180 original vintage photographs taken in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Germany, England and Italy in the 1930s and 40s.

Margaret Bourke-White - Moments in History

August 19 - October 19, 2014

Syracuse University Art Galleries

In the male-dominated world of early twentieth-century photojournalism, Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971) was a striking exception to the rule. She was the first woman to work for Fortune and Life Magazine. In Russia, she photographed a smiling Stalin and in Georgia the aged mother of the dictator. In 1941, when the first German bombs fell on Moscow, Bourke-White was the only foreign photojournalist in the city. Fearlessly, she covered the work of medical teams behind the front line.

Margaret Bourke-White

Moments in History 1930-1945

Fotomuseum, The Hague, The Netherlands

April 12 - June 29, 2014

Women are coming to the fore in a profession long dominated by men, and telling stories their male counterparts couldn't get, writes Tracy McVeig.

Four leading female photographers talk about their work.

Germaine Van Parys (1896-1983) was a pioneer in Belgian photo journalism. Together with her godchild Odette Dereze (DOB 1932), Van Parys accomplished an impressive oeuvre. Their work offers a unique insight into the history of Belgium from 1918 until the end of the last century. Van Parys made a substantial contribution to the development of professional photography in Belgium. 

Her field of interest was broad, seeing that she recorded historical milestones as well as everyday scenes.  Moreover, she managed to build a relationship of trust with the Belgian royal family, which culminated in legendary portraits. The work of Odette Dereze, too, reflects a broad interest in politics, culture, business and events. Her photography betrays a skilled eye, one that is trained on the human being.

The exhibited photographs tell a powerful, visual story in which universal themes, such as sorrow, joy and dreams are woven into the journalistic assignments.  We see Belgium through the lens of two master photographers.

Germaine Van Parys & Odette Dereze

Photomuseum, Antwerp 

25.10.13 - 02.03.14