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r.i.p.
February 15, 2012

Slideshow: Celebrating Lillian Bassman’s Iconic Images

By Charlotte Cowles

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Photo: Lillian Bassman

Renowned photographer Lillian Bassman passed away this week at the age of 94, leaving behind her life’s work of gorgeous pictures. Richard Avedon, whose career she helped launch, hailed her ability to make “visible that heartbreaking invisible place between the appearance and the disappearance of things.” Although Bassman destroyed most of her fashion photographs in the seventies when she became disillusioned with the subject, a few have survived; see our slideshow of her groundbreaking images.

Related: Legendary Fashion Photographer Lillian Bassman Died

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1 / 15 Photos
Lillian Bassman, Barbara Mullen, New York. Harper's Bazaar, circa 1950.
Lillian Bassman. Reflections.
Lillian Bassman. Carmen, Harper's Bazaar, New York, c. 1963. 
Lillian Bassman, Barbara Mullen aboard Le Bateau Mouche, Chanel Advertising Campaign, Paris, 1960.
Lillian Bassman, Untitled 2, 2008. Photo: Lilian Bassman/‚?? Lilian Bassman
Lillian Bassman, Night Bloom. Anneliese Seubert, Paris. The New York Tmes Magazine, 1996.
Lillian Bassman. Betty Threat, Harper's Bazaar, New York, c. 1957. 
Lillian Bassman. Mary Jane Russell, Harper's Bazaar, New York, 1950.
Lillian Bassman, Dress by Jacques Fath for Joseph Helpert. Barbara Mullen, New York. Harper's Bazaar, 1950.
Lillian Bassman, Kronung Des Chic, Model Unknown, Hat by Philipp Treacy, VOGUE Germany, 1998. Photo: Lillian Bassman
Lillian Bassman, Barbara Mullen, New York. Harper's Bazaar, circa 1958.
Lillian Bassman, Barbara Mullen, New York. Harper's Bazaar, circa 1958.
Lillian Bassman, Fletcher D Richards, Model Unknown, circa 1950.
Lillian Bassman. Mary Jane Russell, Harper's Bazaar, New York 1950.
Lillian Bassman. Golden Fox, Blue Fox Marilyn Ambrose, Boa by Frederica, Harper's Bazaar New York, 1954.
1 / 15

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  • lillian bassman
  • r.i.p.
  • staley wise gallery
  • slideshow

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