Search the Collection

Berenice Abbott

(1898-1991), Photographer

Artist of 4 portraits
Born in Ohio, Abbot moved to New York City to study Journalism, but switched to sculpture and painting. In 1921 Abbott travelled to Paris and studied with the sculptor Emile Bourdelle. She attended Kunstschule in Berlin in 1923 before becoming an assistant to Man Ray in Paris. Abbott opened her own portrait studio in Paris in 1926 photographing Jean Cocteau, James Joyce and André Gide amongst others. She moved to New York in 1929 taking with her the collection of Eugene Atget's work which she had purchased after his death, making it known in the United States. From 1929-39 she embarked on her project of photographing New York, exhibiting at the Museum of the City of New York in 1937.

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

Frank Owen Dobson

by Berenice Abbott
vintage bromide print, circa 1923
NPG P611

James Joyce

by Berenice Abbott
bromide print, 1926
NPG P609

James Joyce

by Berenice Abbott
vintage bromide print, 1926
NPG P610

James Joyce

by Berenice Abbott
gelatin silver print, 1928
NPG P1310

Groups

Places

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

* What can you tell us? (Help)

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.

Tell us more

Can you tell us more about this person?

Berenice Abbott

Thanks for Liking