Description
“The seeing eye is the important thing.”
— Imogen Cunningham
This oversized postcard is a reproduction (offset printed, NOT letterpress) of our Focal Point broadside, created in honor of the vision of one of America’s greatest photographers. This postcard faithfully reproduces the hand-lettered typography and hand-drawn illustrations of the original.
Focal Point is a big departure from previous pieces in the series. For the first time ever, the piece is done on a rich, deep black background — which makes the brilliant gold of the quote pop into focus. Surrounding the text is an intricate silver filigree of spring botanicals and portraiture, creating a pastiche of the subjects of some of Imogen Cunningham’s most iconic photographs. In the eye of the storm of imagery is the all-seeing camera lens, looking out onto the world.
You can find all available postcard designs in the postcards section of the shop.
Postcard size: 5 x 8 inches
PLEASE NOTE: these oversized postcards require extra postage for mailing.
PAPER FINISH: this postcard is made from paper with a smooth, eggshell finish. If you write on it, we recommend using either a ballpoint pen or some form of permanent, smear-proof ink.
Colophon reads:
Imogen Cunningham (1883 – 1976) graduated from the University of Washington in 1907, earning a degree in chemistry with her thesis on chemical processes in photography. Shortly afterward she was hired by photographer Edward Curtis, who taught her platinum printing and portraiture. She opened her own successful studio in Seattle, and published an article entitled “Photography as a Profession for Women.” In 1917, Cunningham and her husband and son relocated to California, where she gave birth to twin boys. Her children and the plants in her garden then became key subjects of her work. Her experiments with double exposure throughout the 1920s and 30s contributed to a growing appreciation of photography as art. She was a founding member of Group f/64, a collective of influential west coast photographers including Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. The group mounted a 1932 exhibition at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, united by a manifesto declaring “photography as an art form by simple and direct presentation.” Cunningham’s vision came through in both her personal and commercial work: unvarnished celebrity portraits for Vanity Fair; documentary street photography; nudes and botanical images — a lifetime of work that continues to challenge and intrigue viewers.
Illustrated by Chandler O’Leary and printed by Jessica Spring, grateful for artists who remind us to focus.
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This original artwork is copyright Chandler O’Leary and Jessica Spring 2014. Copyright is not transferable with the sale of this postcard. The buyer is not entitled to reproduction rights.
WA state residents are subject to sales tax.
This card will ship flat in a protective mailer, via the United States Postal Service.
