Frederick Sommer American photographer, artist Date of Birth: 07.09.1905 Country: USA

1. Biography of Frederick Sommer
2. Early Career and Illness
3. Photography and Artistic Style
4. Recognition and Later Years

Biography of Frederick Sommer

Frederick Sommer was an American photographer and artist known for his work in various genres, including portraits, landscapes, abstract compositions, and nudes. He was born in 1905 in Angri, Italy and grew up in Brazil. Sommer obtained a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from Cornell University in 1927 and became a US citizen in 1939. During his time at the university, he met his future wife, Frances Elisabeth Watson, and they got married in 1928.

Early Career and Illness

In the early 1930s, Sommer was already known as a successful architect and a hobbyist artist. Unfortunately, he fell seriously ill with tuberculosis, which required extensive treatment. However, it was during his treatment in Switzerland in 1931 that Sommer first picked up a camera. From that moment on, he continued his painting while increasingly becoming more interested in photography. In 1935, Sommer crossed paths with the renowned photographer Alfred Stieglitz and was deeply influenced by the works of photographers such as Paul Strand and Edward Weston. Sommer soon acquired a large-format camera and dedicated all his time to photography.

Photography and Artistic Style

Sommer worked in various genres, including portraits, landscapes, abstract compositions, and nudes. One of his most famous, albeit controversial, series of photographs depicted chicken entrails captured in a peculiar manner. During this period, Sommer was drawn to surrealism. He once said, "Life itself is not a reality. We are the ones who breathe life into stones and pebbles."

Recognition and Later Years

Sommer's first solo exhibition took place in 1946 in Santa Barbara, where he was warmly received. In 1952, The Museum of Modern Art in New York held an exhibition titled "Diogenes with a Camera," which further expanded Sommer's reputation beyond the United States and gained recognition in Europe. Many of his subsequent exhibitions included not only photographs but also his paintings and graphics.

Frederick Sommer continued to photograph, paint, and remain active until the end of his life. He was a multi-talented individual who even composed music. Sommer traveled extensively throughout the country, wrote articles on art, and conducted photography masterclasses. He passed away on January 23, 1999, at the age of 93.