James Abbe was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 photographer.

Background

James Abbe was born in 1883 in Alfred, Maine. He traveled throughout Europe as a young photojournalist recording the unstable power struggles of the early 20th century. However, he first made a name for himself photographing movie stars in New York, Paris, and London throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s. Most of his well-known black-and-white photos are those of celebrities portraying the “lure of the limelight.” His unusual technique of not doing his work in his studio set him apart from other photographers of this time period, and changed the way the world viewed publicity stills. To make money, Abbe sold his photographs to magazines like “Vogue” and “Vanity Fair”. Mainly because of this, media-induced celebrity was brought about.

Famous Photographs

After gaining some public notice Abbe began submitting his work to some major publications, including “London Magazine” and “IllustrireZeitung.” These were used as early prototypes for “LIFE Magazine” and helped in the creation of the phrase ‘candids’ or, lengthy stories with multiple photographs.Abbe also took photographs during the Spanish Civil War and the Nazi’s rise in Germany. Also, his well-known portrait of Joseph Stalin was used to stop rumor about the Soviet Union.

Books and Exhibitions

Abbe’s book I Photograph Russia was published in 1934. This work includes eighty photographs taken by Abbe.
In Alice R. and Sol B. Frank Photography Galleries, there is a James Abbe Photographer exhibit that is on display through November 5, 2000. With this exhibition there is also a catalogue that includes texts by Brooks Johnson, and Terence Pepper.

His son, also named James Abbe, also was a photographer who worked for Harper's Bazaar

Harper's Bazaar

Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...

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