Ruth Bernhard’s diverse photographic style has left a distinct impression and inspiration throughout the world of art. Her images of the human body in rare and often nude form captivated emotions and expressions that other photographers failed to pick up in their film. I was introduced to Ruth Bernhard’s work while taking a History of Photography class at Manhattanville, which inspired most of my photography work.
Ruth Bernhard once said “I became a photographer by accident, after I came to the United States. When I arrived in 1927, I had no job, no profession, and no money. My father supported me while I learned English, but in 1929, he announced that it was time for me to have a job. An acquaintance by the name of Ralph Steiner, who worked for the magazine The Delineator, was looking for a darkroom assistant. That is where I learned to be a photographer. However, the job itself was very uninteresting. After six months I was fired. I used the ninety dollars I received as severance pay to purchase an 8 x 10 view camera, a tripod, and other darkroom equipment. With only pennies left, I purchased straws and Lifesavers at the dime store, which became the inspiration for my first two photographs”.[i] The photograph was titled “Lifesaver” (1930), light reflected towards the right side of the pieces of the candy creating shadows that resembled tires.
Another one of my favorite images is of Bernhard’s first nude photograph inspired while shooting a large metal bowl for a Museum of Modern Art catalogue. There on from this one object Bernhard had an idea, she asked a friend who was a dancer to curl up in a large bowl like a baby in a womb. This photograph was titled “Embryo” (1934) the pale figure of the 
woman huddled in the bowl against a shadowy background. Bernhard explained how this photograph can be recognized as the beginning/birth of her career in a different artistic direction. “I was always interested in the shapes. The sexy part never occurred to me”. [ii] All of Bernhard’s photographs are in black and white using gelatin silver prints. It is a paper that is covered with gelatin which consists of light sensitive silver salts. This type of print was developed in the 1870’s used for the first time in Joseph Nicephore Niepce photograph titled “View from the window at Gras”. This print soon replaced the albumen prints because they were more stable, easier to produce and did not turn yellow. Generally, all black and white ph
otographs are produced with gelatin silver prints.[iii]
Another well known photograph of Bernhard is titled “Horizontal” (1962), which is by far one of my favorite, it is of a female placed in a prostrate position in a cardboard box. All of her photographs are simple and carefully posed. She was very specific with how she wanted the subjects to be placed. Othe
r similar photographs consisting of nude models are “Perspective II” (1967), of a female model lying on her side. Bernhard uses the light so that only have of the models body is shown creating a distinctive shape. This next photograph consist of two nude female models titled “Two Forms” (1963), both models have similar body shape.
Ruth Bernhard once said “I became a photographer by accident, after I came to the United States. When I arrived in 1927, I had no job, no profession, and no money. My father supported me while I learned English, but in 1929, he announced that it was time for me to have a job. An acquaintance by the name of Ralph Steiner, who worked for the magazine The Delineator, was looking for a darkroom assistant. That is where I learned to be a photographer. However, the job itself was very uninteresting. After six months I was fired. I used the ninety dollars I received as severance pay to purchase an 8 x 10 view camera, a tripod, and other darkroom equipment. With only pennies left, I purchased straws and Lifesavers at the dime store, which became the inspiration for my first two photographs”.[i] The photograph was titled “Lifesaver” (1930), light reflected towards the right side of the pieces of the candy creating shadows that resembled tires.
Another one of my favorite images is of Bernhard’s first nude photograph inspired while shooting a large metal bowl for a Museum of Modern Art catalogue. There on from this one object Bernhard had an idea, she asked a friend who was a dancer to curl up in a large bowl like a baby in a womb. This photograph was titled “Embryo” (1934) the pale figure of the 
woman huddled in the bowl against a shadowy background. Bernhard explained how this photograph can be recognized as the beginning/birth of her career in a different artistic direction. “I was always interested in the shapes. The sexy part never occurred to me”. [ii] All of Bernhard’s photographs are in black and white using gelatin silver prints. It is a paper that is covered with gelatin which consists of light sensitive silver salts. This type of print was developed in the 1870’s used for the first time in Joseph Nicephore Niepce photograph titled “View from the window at Gras”. This print soon replaced the albumen prints because they were more stable, easier to produce and did not turn yellow. Generally, all black and white ph
otographs are produced with gelatin silver prints.[iii]Another well known photograph of Bernhard is titled “Horizontal” (1962), which is by far one of my favorite, it is of a female placed in a prostrate position in a cardboard box. All of her photographs are simple and carefully posed. She was very specific with how she wanted the subjects to be placed. Othe
r similar photographs consisting of nude models are “Perspective II” (1967), of a female model lying on her side. Bernhard uses the light so that only have of the models body is shown creating a distinctive shape. This next photograph consist of two nude female models titled “Two Forms” (1963), both models have similar body shape.
I have attached the websites where you can find more information regarding Ruth Bernhard and her work.
[i] Ruth Bernhard “Ruth Bernhard: Known and Unknown,” 1997, The Chronicles of Ecuation, 24 Nov. 2007 http://proquest.umi.com/pqdwebindex=8&did=13939568&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=4&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1196312561&clientId=10763
[ii] “Happy Birthday Ruth” 2003, Women In Photography International, 24 Nov. 2007<http://womeninphotography.org/ruthbernhardAA.html>
[iii] “Lifesavers” year not listed, Photography: Soulcatcher Studio: Ruth Bernhard: Lifesavers, 1930, 28 Nov. 2007<http://www.soulcatcherstudio.com/exhibitions/favorites/bernhard_Is.html
[ii] “Happy Birthday Ruth” 2003, Women In Photography International, 24 Nov. 2007<http://womeninphotography.org/ruthbernhardAA.html>
[iii] “Lifesavers” year not listed, Photography: Soulcatcher Studio: Ruth Bernhard: Lifesavers, 1930, 28 Nov. 2007<http://www.soulcatcherstudio.com/exhibitions/favorites/bernhard_Is.html
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