Eleanor, Chicago, 1949
November 9, 2020
One of the great beauties of Harry Callahan’s elegant photographs of his wife Eleanor is the way they demonstrate that formal exploration and pictorial warmth aren’t mutually exclusive pursuits. While Callahan’s pictures of Eleanor document his dedicated investigation of photographic possibilities, they also never fail to express his tender affection for his wife. If Callahan was following a path of photographic exploration, the portraits of Eleanor affirm that she was a stalwart companion every step along the way. As a result, the pictures offer great depth in the way that they embody the various ways that love and dedication are expressed along life's journey.
