Edward Steichen
American, born Luxemburg 1879-1973

Joan Crawford
1932
13 1/4” x 9 5/8”
Gelatin Silver Print
Ed. 15/30

Gift of Aaron Schechter and Elaine Abrams Schechter, 2002

Edward Steichen was the Chief Photographer for both Vogue and Vanity Fair during the time when silent films gave way to talking pictures.

In 1928, Joan Crawford became a star by embodying the carefree life of a flapper in the silent film Our Dancing Daughters. In 1932, Steichen captured Crawford at the peak of her sensuality and allure. Enrobed in a black Elsa Schiaparelli dress, a white rose affixed to the lapel at her breast, Crawford stands in stark contrast to the white wall behind her. Her pose with one hip cocked to the side hints at her years as a Broadway chorus girl. The black floor gives the illusion that she is melting into (or is it growing out of?) the ground. Her gaze is toward the floor, one eyebrow raised in such a way that she seems to be asking, ‘Oh yeah..?’

Though Crawford won an Oscar for Mildred Pierce, later films such as Straight Jacket and Trog diminished her accomplishments, becoming beloved only for their camp value. Today, she is perhaps best known to younger audiences through Faye Dunaway’s outrageous performance as Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest.

Written by Rob Maitner, graduate student in the Arts Administration program at Baruch College.