Untitled (Eleanor)

Without formal training, Harry Callahan became one of the twentieth century’s most influential photographers through his investigation of light, shadow, texture, and multiple exposures. In images of cities, landscapes, and intimate portraits (mostly of his wife, Eleanor, and his daughter, Barbara), he often experimented with graphic abstraction, always infused with a personal expression. This early portrait of Eleanor combines his exploration of light with his interest in line and form. Eleanor’s face is seen in profile against the trunk of a tree. Shadows of foliage overlay her face, and the stark contrasts contribute to the flatness of the image. The Museum holds several of Callahan’s portraits of Eleanor and Barbara, as well as many cityscapes and landscapes, a large number of them in color.