This print originates from the Collection of Paul Haviland, a French-American photographer, writer, collector and, along with Clarence White, a key member of the Photo-Secessionist movement championed by Alfred Steiglitz. As Stieglitz’s close friend and ally, Haviland was directly involved in his many photographic endeavors- from galleries to publications- and thus became an integral figure in helping establish photography’s presence within the art world in the early 20th century. The model shown here, Florence Peterson, also appears frequently as a subject of Haviland’s own photographs which were taken in New York before his return to France in 1916.

“I think that if i were asked to name the most subtle and refined master photography has produced, that i would name him... To be a true artist in photography one must also be an artist in life, and Clarence H. White was such an artist.”
ALVIN LANGDON COBURN