Alice Austen, Rachel Rachmany

Alice Austen was a photographer who lived from 1866-1952. She was one of the first women to work as a photographer outside of the studio. She mainly focused on photographing immigrants, the street types in New York City, and women during the time period. Although these photographs are from so far in the past, they are important for us to see today because they allow us to understand what New York looked like, what happened in the past through the photographs, and allow us to understand the different groups back then and the emotions they were feeling. For example, I saw pictures of kids in the street with newspapers in their hands, while I also saw young kids in ripped up clothes all saddened by the way they are living. Everyone had a different life in New York and we were able to see each part of it through the lens of Alice Austen. One photograph in particular I would like to bring up is one of a woman. She stood up straight and tall in a gorgeous proper outfit that was fully covered, you could tell she was wealthy. However, the thing I noticed most about her was her facial expressions. She looked serious, but not even that, it somehow looked like she was sad and strict on herself, perhaps the way she was standing or the way she dressed or maybe it was even the serious expression on her face, however that’s what I felt while looking at this photograph. So, I think this photograph and the subject of women in her photo’s are so important because it allows us to see how the traditions, behavior, clothing, and appearance has changed over the period of time. Women had to look a certain way, act a certain way, and dress a certain way that I don’t believe we are as familiar with in this time and age. This woman is standing very upright, with a serious expression and in a very modest outfit. It allows us to reflect upon the expectations of women during that time period and even the hardship they could have faced. But now, in today’s society in New York City, women have the ability to wear whatever they want, without being judged. Today women actually express themselves through what they wear. Alice Austen’s photographs are so important because they allow us to compare our lives now to the lives of women in the past in New York City.