My second event is Imogen Cunningham’s 1939 Self-Portrait with Jane Foster. There is no description on the photograph or information on Jane Foster, but it may be safe to assume that the woman in the water is either Cunningham or Jane Foster posing as Cunningham. This image could have served as an inspiration for Dater’s 1974 Imogen and Twinka at Yosemite, as it follows a similar pattern. Like Twinka, the woman in the water is being watched by someone who she may or may not know is there. Both photos are taken in a natural environment, one in the woods and one in freshwater. The question remains, “What does this photograph mean?”. Well, in the 1930s it was unusual to photograph a naked woman. Cunningham, being a former member of Group f/64, was known for capturing simple subjects and landscapes. The open freshwater and the nude woman are so simple that there is not much to conclude from the photograph, as it is left to the viewer’s interpretation. The woman in the water is facing away from the camera as she floats peacefully, naked. This means we do not know what she is looking at or how she feels based on her expression. The shadow of the person photographing the naked woman in the open water is visible, which makes it safe to assume that it was included in the self-portrait intentionally, possibly to warn viewers that someone is always watching, whether they’re welcomed or not. Even if this image did not influence Dater, the similarites between it and her 1974 photography are still prominent.
Cunningham, Imogen. 1939. Self-Portrait with Jane Foster, Lake Tenaya
Accessed 02.04.2023
Imogencunningham.com. Short Biography.
https://www.imogencunningham.com/about/biography/
Accessed 02.04.2023