Macro photography underwent a significant technical evolution in the 1940s when Berenice Abbott developed the "Super Sight" process, also known as the Abbott Process. Her diverse career spanned decades, moving from capturing portraits of literary figures in Paris to documenting the rapid architectural transformation of New York City, before eventually turning her attention toward the visual interpretation of scientific principles.
Artistic Formation in Europe
Born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1898, Abbott initially pursued studies in sculpture and painting at The Ohio State University and the Art Students League of New York. In 1921, she relocated to Europe, attending the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris and the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin. During this time, she adopted the name Berenice at the recommendation of Djuna Barnes and published poetry in the journal transition. Her transition to photography began in 1923 when Man Ray hired her as a darkroom assistant, eventually allowing her to operate his studio for her own portraiture projects.
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After meeting Eugène Atget in 1927, Abbott became a primary advocate for his photographic legacy. Following his death that same year, she purchased the remaining prints and negatives from his estate in June 1928, which she promoted for decades. She co-edited the 1930 volume Atget, photographe de Paris and later authored The World of Atget in 1964. She maintained possession of the collection until selling the archive to the Museum of Modern Art in 1968, ensuring his position as a pioneer of documentary realism.
Documenting a Changing Metropolis
Returning to New York City in 1929, Abbott launched an extensive project to chronicle the city's shifting urban landscape. Using a large-format Century Universal camera, she captured precise, detailed images of neighborhoods and architecture undergoing modernization. This work culminated in the 1937 exhibition and subsequent book, Changing New York, which provided a permanent visual record of buildings and urban areas that have since been destroyed.
Late Career and Technical Innovation
In addition to her documentary work, Abbott served as an inventor and scientist-photographer. Her "Super Sight" process allowed for clear macro documentation of scientific subjects, bridging the gap between artistic photography and scientific observation. Her professional contributions were recognized with the Women's Caucus for Art Lifetime Achievement Award in 1982 and induction into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1991. She spent her final years in Maine and was buried at the New Blanchard Cemetery upon her death in 1991.
Fast facts
- Born: 1898, Springfield, Ohio
- Died: 1991, Monson, Maine
- Movement: Straight photography
- Notable innovation: Super Sight (Abbott Process)
- Professional debut: Paris, 1921
- Major project: Changing New York
- Burial site: New Blanchard Cemetery
- Key employer: Man Ray (1924-1926)
Questions readers ask
What was the Abbott Process?
Also known as Super Sight, it was a form of macro photography developed by Abbott in the early 1940s.
What was the significance of the Atget archive?
Abbott purchased the majority of Eugène Atget's prints and negatives in 1928, promoting his work through books and exhibitions until selling the collection to the Museum of Modern Art in 1968.
Achievements
- Movement: straight photography
