New York: Edward Thayer Monroe (A-H)    Apr 12, '11 12:14 AM
by Vlad for group historicalziegfeld #551

New York: Edward Thayer Monroe (I-Z)    Apr 12, '11 1:16 AM
by Vlad for group historicalziegfeld #553


Edward Thayer Monroe

Time Period: 1913-1950
Location: 45 W. 45th, 554 Fifth Ave., 18 E. 46th Street Manhattan

“Monroe's years of uncredited work as a portraitist at the busiest studio in New York City from 1914 to 1919 instilled in him a mastery of natural lighting and photographic printing. Because White Studios' production photographs, shot by George W. Lucas, highlighted the glitzy spectacle of the stage, Monroe, when shooting performers out of character cultivated an almost austere naturalness of pose and setting. He was a neoclassicist in sensibility, avoiding dramatic contrasts in tone in his prints by avoiding spot lighting and heavy dodging of the prints. He experimented with textured papers for his prints and his finest work shows exquisite finish. The typical Monroe portrait shows a sitter at rest, composed and self-possessed, whether sitting or standing. In the middle 1920s he shot nudes of showgirls that have the stillness and poise of Greek statuary. He avoided reclining postures. His portraits for White occasionally employed soft focus. Those appearing under his own name tend to be straight, well-lit, with moderate depth of field.”
© David S. Shields
http://broadway.cas.sc.edu/index.php?action=showPhotographer&id=31