IMOGEN

Award-winning author Partridge presents a cradle-to-grave biography of her grandmother, the iconic photographer Imogen Cunningham (1883-1976).

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Imogen strove to capture the essence of the nearby woods through her drawings and paintings. With her father’s encouragement (“He paid 35 cents for a paint set”), she persisted until she discovered photography. She ordered a camera and taught herself to use it, eventually building a darkroom with her father’s help. In photography, she found a way to express “all the feelings she carried deep inside her.” Imogen photographed friends, opened a studio, experimented with double negatives, and went on to become world famous, inspiring young women “to follow their dreams and earn a living as well.” Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator Shimizu’s sepia-toned spreads are an apt match for the subject matter, conveying the effervescent joy of making art and pairing well with Partridge’s plainly written text. Most compelling is Partridge’s author’s note, where she offers more intimate details of growing up with Imogen. Readers will find insights on Imogen’s artistic sensibility, expressed in her own words (“I don’t hunt for things…I just wait till something strikes me”), and her evolution as a street and celebrity photographer.

A solidly told story about an accomplished artist’s beginnings.