OstLicht Prisma – The New Monthly Newsletter. Just as a prism refracts light into its colors, we illuminate photography in all its facets – from historical developments and artistic movements to contemporary trends.
Surprise yourself or your loved ones with a photograph for International Women’s Day on March 8!
Since the invention of photography, female protagonists have been successful in many areas of the medium – as daguerreotypists in their own portrait studios or as amateur photographers in the Pictorialist movement. However, they remained exceptions, as men dominated almost all aspects of education and professional practice. It was only with the emergence of a new social role model around 1920 that more opportunities opened up for women in photography. This shift was significantly influenced by International Women’s Day, introduced in 1911 as a platform for advocating women’s suffrage, which was achieved in Austria in 1918.
Eve Arnold and Inge Morath were the first female members of the legendary Magnum agency; both focused on capturing famous stars beyond the glamour, as well as anonymous everyday heroines. Elfriede Mejchar, primarily known for her suburban and architectural documentation, developed a highly symbolic visual language in her studio work, subtly conveying gender-political aspects. Cora Pongracz, like VALIE EXPORT, belonged to the first generation of female photographic artists who addressed feminist issues in their work.
