Barbara Morgan began her career as a painter studying modern art at UCLA in the 1920s. It was her interest in modern dance that eventually led her to photography and her collaboration with several well-known choreographers including Martha Graham.
Since dancing is an impermanent art form, Graham believed the art of a dancer died with their physical death. For both Morgan and Graham, photographing dancers was a way to capture and preserve their artwork.
Morgan was not concerned with a literal documentation of a dancer’s performance. She would attend performances to familiarize herself with the dance and movement and to find the essence of the piece. Once she felt she had captured the theme in her head, she would restage the performance in her studio or nearby theatres. She created the lighting as well and used it to enhance the experience.
One of my favorite photographs by Morgan is Martha Graham, Letter to the World. You may see it in our current exhibition In the Public Eye: Photography and Fame. I’ve always thought it was a gorgeous image purely for its elegant composition. I never saw Martha Graham perform but from this image, I can imagine the passion and intensity she put into every movement.