Lisette Model: The Uncompromising Eye of Street and Portrait Photography Introduction Lisette Model (1901–1983) was one of the most radical and influential photographers of the 20th century. Known for her raw, confrontational portraits and unsentimental street photography, Model rejected beauty, elegance, and idealization in favor of truth, intensity, and presence. Born in Vienna and later working in Paris and New York, Model turned her camera toward subjects many photographers avoided: excess, aging bodies, awkwardness, arrogance, vulnerability, and power. From wealthy vacationers on the French Riviera to passersby in New York City, her photographs confront viewers with the physical and psychological reality of her subjects. Beyond her own work, Model’s influence expanded enormously through her teaching. As a longtime instructor at the New School in New York, she shaped generations of photographers — most notably Diane Arbus — instilling a philosophy that prioritized honesty, e...
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people to see without a camera" - Dorothea Lange