Anne W Brigman (1869-1950) began photographing in 1901. She was active in the bohemian community of the San Francisco Bay area, and it didn't take long before she began exhibiting her work in local photographic salons. She became a big influencer on many of her contemporaries, and also ventured into acting and writing poetry.
Her photography often depicts female nudes set in landscapes or trees. They often have very staged, dramatic looks, and she frequently used herself as model. After shooting she touched up the negatives with paints, pencils, or superimposition. I find her photos dreamlike, pagan, and femininely liberating.
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| Soul of a Blasted Pine, Self Portrait, 1908. Source |
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| Heart of the Storm, 1902. Source |
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| The Spider's Web, 1908. Source |
