The Realisms of Berenice Abbott: Documentary Photography and Political Action

The Realisms of Berenice Abbott provides the first in-depth consideration of the work of the photographer Berenice Abbott. She is best known for her 1930s documentary images of New York City, but in this book, Terri Weissman examines a broad range of Abbott's work, including her portraits from the 1920s, her little-known and uncompleted projects from the 1930s, and her experimental science photography from the 1950s. Weissman argues that Abbott consistently relied on realism as the theoretical armature for her work, even as her understanding of that term changed over time and in relation to specific historical circumstances. As Weissman demonstrates, Abbott's unflinching commitment to "realist" aesthetics led her to develop a critical theory of documentary that recognizes the complexity of representation without excluding or obscuring a connection between art and engagement in the political public sphere. In telling Abbott's story, The Realisms of Berenice Abbott reveals insights into the politics and social context of documentary production and presents a thoughtful analysis of why documentary remains a compelling artistic strategy today. --Book Jacket.

Terri Weissman is Assistant Professor of Art History at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a contributing editor to American Modern: Documentary Photography by Abbott, Evans, and Bourke-White (UC Press).