Lillian Bassman, The Starched Coif and the Striped Mailot, Evelyn Tripp, coif by Jane Derby, Barbados, Harper's Bazaar, 1954
Published by L’Œil de la Photographie in March 2026, this article highlights the exhibition Lillian Bassman: Bazaar and Beyond at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which explores the photographer’s pioneering role in transforming mid-century fashion imagery. Drawing on a significant gift from the artist’s estate, the exhibition presents vintage prints, magazine layouts, and experimental darkroom works that trace Bassman’s evolution from art director at Harper’s Bazaar to an influential photographic voice. The article emphasizes her innovative approach to abstraction, movement, and editorial design, positioning her practice within broader conversations about modernism and the expressive potential of fashion photography.
24 March 2026
