Lot 188: Louise Dahl-Wolfe Signed Photograph, Portrait of William Edmondson

Louise Dahl-Wolfe (American, 1895-1989) signed silver gelatin photograph depicting Nashville African American sculptor William Edmondson (Tennessee, 1874-1951) shown bust-length and looking up and to his right, circa 1930s. He wears his signature hat and overalls and a carved limestone sculpture of a woman stands to his right. Float mounted on cream cardstock and housed in a contemporary black metal frame. Signed in pencil to mat, lower right. Photograph: 8 5/8" H x 7 5/8" W. Framed: 18 1/2" H x 17 1/4" W. Note: "Louise Dahl-Wolfe was one of the most significant photographers to work in Tennessee. Although she is best remembered for her accomplishments in fashion, Dahl-Wolfe's portraits of limestone sculptor William Edmondson are among her most impactful works. In the late 1930s, Edmondson welcomed Dahl-Wolfe to his Nashville workyard, where she photographed him with his remarkable limestone carvings. She then shared her images with Alfred H. Barr Jr., founding director of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and used the images to advocate for the artist's significance. Edmondson, little known outside of Nashville then, became the first Black artist to have a solo exhibition at MoMA in 1937. Dahl-Wolfe's photographs caused Edmondson's name, likeness, and art to travel further than the man himself ever did. As the person who crafted these portraits, Dahl-Wolfe played an active role in shaping how the world saw Edmondson and how his art was perceived." (Source: Tennessee State Museum) This image is also the cover for the book "William Edmonson: A Retrospective" published in 1981 by the Tennessee State Museum.

PROVENANCE: Private Middle Tennessee Collection.

CONDITION: Overall very good condition.