Imogen The life and work of Imogen Cunningham

An artist's joy for photography resounds in this absorbing picture book biography of Imogen Cunningham (1883--1976), penned by granddaughter Partridge. The warmth-filled work emphasizes Cunningham's childhood love of the outdoors and her close, supportive relationship with her father. Early forays into drawing and painting led to experiments with photography, in which Cunningham finally finds the artistic medium she'd been seeking: "There it was, right in the photographs, all the soft cadence of the poetry, all the beauty, all the feelings she carried deep inside her." Throughout digitally colored ink illustrations, Shimizu includes throwback textures such as Ben Day--like dots. Scenes of Cunningham draw on the artist's actual photographs, some reproduced in back matter, while pensive text persuasively expresses how "people stood and stared and felt all the joy and longing and wonder that Imogen had captured." Extensive back matter includes an author's note. Ages 4--8. (Aug.)

Imogen Cunningham (1883-1976) was born into a large, loving family in the Pacific Northwest at the tail end of the nineteenth century. As a young girl, she was drawn to artistic pursuits: first drawing, then painting, but it wasn't until she read a newspaper article about a female photographer that she found her true calling in life. Her father, who had nurtured her creativity throughout childhood, built her a darkroom for developing photographs. At long last, she had found the medium that suited her best, as described in Partridge's captivating text. "There it was, right in the photographs, all the soft cadence of the poetry, all the beauty, all the feelings she carried deep inside her. Nothing was missing." She built her passion for photography into a celebrated career yielding a large body of diverse work that ranged from celebrity portraits to experimental and innovative techniques. Shimizu's illustrations, ink on watercolor paper with digital coloring, perfectly capture the historical period through clothing, furniture, and equipment. More importantly, they also capture Cunningham's indomitable spirit. An author's note reveals Cunningham to be Partridge's paternal grandmother and provides additional, fascinating personal context and details, including ten of Cunningham's black-and-white photographs; endnotes and a timeline are also appended. Jonathan HuntSeptember/October 2025 p.89 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Award-winning author Partridge presents a cradle-to-grave biography of her grandmother, the iconic photographer Imogen Cunningham (1883-1976). Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Imogen strove to capture the essence of the nearby woods through her drawings and paintings. With her father's encouragement ("He paid 35 cents for a paint set"), she persisted until she discovered photography. She ordered a camera and taught herself to use it, eventually building a darkroom with her father's help. In photography, she found a way to express "all the feelings she carried deep inside her." Imogen photographed friends, opened a studio, experimented with double negatives, and went on to become world famous, inspiring young women "to follow their dreams and earn a living as well." Caldecott Honor--winning illustrator Shimizu's sepia-toned spreads are an apt match for the subject matter, conveying the effervescent joy of making art and pairing well with Partridge's plainly written text. Most compelling is Partridge's author's note, where she offers more intimate details of growing up with Imogen. Readers will find insights on Imogen's artistic sensibility, expressed in her own words ("I don't hunt for things…I just wait till something strikes me"), and her evolution as a street and celebrity photographer. A solidly told story about an accomplished artist's beginnings. (archival photographs, end notes, timeline)(Picture-book biography. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.