Mary Steen
Encyclopedia
Mary Dorothea Frederica Steen (28 October 1856 – 7 April 1939) was a Danish photographer
and feminist. At the age of 28, she opened a studio in Copenhagen
where she specialized in indoor photography. She later became Denmark
's first female court photographer, working not only with the Danish royals but, at the invitation of Princess Alexandra
, with the British royal family too. She also played an important part in improving conditions for female workers and encouraging women to take up the profession of photography.
and Randers
in Jutland
, Mary Steen was the daughter of Niels Jensen Steen, a schoolteacher, and Caroline Kirstine Petersen. In her late teens, she moved to Copenhagen
where she graduated at the Women's Business School but she soon found out that she was not made for office work. She decided to take up photography and received training first in Sweden
and then with a photographer in Copenhagen.
in the centre of Copenhagen. At the 1888 Nordic Exhibition she won a silver medal for her photographs of both royals and ordinary citizens in their homes, and she also exhibited at the 1893 World Exhibition in Chicago
.
Steen's speciality was indoor photography, a difficult art at a time when electricity was not widespead. The photographs she took at the Flerons' house on Copenhagen's Vesterbrogade are among the first showing people inside their own homes.
The indoor photographs in Et minde fra Fredensborg i fjor (Last year's memories of Fredensborg) are among the first shots to be published in the magazine Illustreret Tidende.
In 1888, she became the first female court photographer for Princess Alexandra
who was to marry Great Britain's Edward VII
. Around 1895, Princess Alexandra invited her to London
where she photographed members of the royal family, including Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle
.
As a result of growing deafness, she closed her studio in 1918.
. She was also active in the Danish Women's Society (Dansk Kvindesamfund) where she sat on the board from 1889–1892. Together with Julie Laurberg, she photographed the leading figures in the Danish women's movement. In 1891, she received a grant from the Reiersenske Fond, a trade association, which allowed her to travel to Germany
and Vienna
.
She campaigned for better working conditions for women including eight days holiday and a half day off on Sundays. She treated her own staff well, paying good wages. Her example was widely followed.
Agnes Henningsen who became a trainee with Mary Steen in 1895 provides a lively description of Mary Steen in her memoires Byen erobret, published in 1945: "Everything about Mary Steen was powerful and energetic. She shook her head decisively, refusing to have a trainee. She would discourage anyone who wanted to open a studio in Copenhagen. (...) I concluded: 'So I won't be able to take those children, Miss Steen. The only thing I want is to be a photographer.' She stood up, gesturing meaningfully: 'Start tomorrow.'"
Photography in Denmark
Photography in Denmark has developed from strong participation and interest in the very beginnings of the art in 1839 to the success of a considerable number of Danes in the world of photography today...
and feminist. At the age of 28, she opened a studio in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
where she specialized in indoor photography. She later became Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
's first female court photographer, working not only with the Danish royals but, at the invitation of Princess Alexandra
Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
, with the British royal family too. She also played an important part in improving conditions for female workers and encouraging women to take up the profession of photography.
Early life
Born in a village between AarhusAarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
and Randers
Randers
Randers is a city in Randers municipality on the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark. It is Denmark's sixth-largest city, with a population of 60,656 . Randers city is the main town of the municipality and the site of its municipal council.-Overview:Randers municipality has 94,750 inhabitants...
in Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
, Mary Steen was the daughter of Niels Jensen Steen, a schoolteacher, and Caroline Kirstine Petersen. In her late teens, she moved to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
where she graduated at the Women's Business School but she soon found out that she was not made for office work. She decided to take up photography and received training first in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and then with a photographer in Copenhagen.
Professional career
In 1884, at the age of 28, she opened her own photographic studio on AmagertorvAmagertorv
Amagertorv , today part of the Strøget pedestrian zone, is often described as the most central square in central Copenhagen, Denmark...
in the centre of Copenhagen. At the 1888 Nordic Exhibition she won a silver medal for her photographs of both royals and ordinary citizens in their homes, and she also exhibited at the 1893 World Exhibition in Chicago
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
.
Steen's speciality was indoor photography, a difficult art at a time when electricity was not widespead. The photographs she took at the Flerons' house on Copenhagen's Vesterbrogade are among the first showing people inside their own homes.
The indoor photographs in Et minde fra Fredensborg i fjor (Last year's memories of Fredensborg) are among the first shots to be published in the magazine Illustreret Tidende.
In 1888, she became the first female court photographer for Princess Alexandra
Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
who was to marry Great Britain's Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
. Around 1895, Princess Alexandra invited her to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where she photographed members of the royal family, including Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
.
As a result of growing deafness, she closed her studio in 1918.
Promoting feminism
In 1891, she was the first woman on the board of the Danish Photographers AssociationDansk Fotografisk Forening
The Dansk Fotografisk Forening or Danish Photographers Association is a non-profit organization for photographers who earn a living from photography. Since 1879, it has been supporting professional photography and assisting its members....
. She was also active in the Danish Women's Society (Dansk Kvindesamfund) where she sat on the board from 1889–1892. Together with Julie Laurberg, she photographed the leading figures in the Danish women's movement. In 1891, she received a grant from the Reiersenske Fond, a trade association, which allowed her to travel to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
She campaigned for better working conditions for women including eight days holiday and a half day off on Sundays. She treated her own staff well, paying good wages. Her example was widely followed.
Overall assessment
Mary Steen considered her work to be art. Photography was becoming an attractive profession for women. As a result of her example, talented artistic women began to believe they could become successful photographers.Agnes Henningsen who became a trainee with Mary Steen in 1895 provides a lively description of Mary Steen in her memoires Byen erobret, published in 1945: "Everything about Mary Steen was powerful and energetic. She shook her head decisively, refusing to have a trainee. She would discourage anyone who wanted to open a studio in Copenhagen. (...) I concluded: 'So I won't be able to take those children, Miss Steen. The only thing I want is to be a photographer.' She stood up, gesturing meaningfully: 'Start tomorrow.'"
Sources
- This article draws heavily on Mary Steen from Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon.