Hall of femmes: Lillian Bassman

Abstract

This book highlights one of the first art directors--Lillian Bassman, whose life and 70 year career as an American photographer was extraordinary. Lillian Bassman began as an assistant to Alexey Brodovitch at Harper's Bazaar, in the very epicentre of the golden age of the American magazine culture. In 1945 she became art director for the newly launched Junior Bazaar, a fashion magazine focused on teenagers. Junior Bazaar functioned as an experimental workshop and a hot-bed for all kinds of young creative talents. When the magazine folded publication after merely three years, Lillian Bassman instead trained herself to become a photographer and became one of Harper's Bazaars most hired photographers. Today, she is 93 years old and still works every single day.