Evelyn Hofer’s career spanned over fifty years, from 1946 to 1998, as she immersed herself in the world of photography. Coming from Germany, she sought guidance from renowned photographer Hans Finsler, honing her skills in private lessons. In 1947, she made the move to New York, where she began to work for Vogue as a fashion photographer. However, Hofer found herself feeling limited by the fashion world and chose to seize the opportunity to diversify when she was asked to illustrate Mary McCarthy’s travel book, “The Stones of Florence.” Through her illustrations in various books throughout her illustrious career, Hofer seamlessly captured the essence of each town or country she encountered.
One notable example of Hofer’s work is her contribution to V.S. Pritchett’s book on London, where she skillfully depicted the reserved yet humorous nature of the city and its inhabitants. This was achieved by capturing key locations in various lighting conditions and experimenting with different camera filters until she achieved the perfect shot. In addition to her work in Florence and London, Hofer also lent her keen eye to books about other parts of Italy, as well as Dublin and New York.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Hofer’s work could be found in renowned publications such as The London Times, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times Magazine, where she photographed famous artists such as Balthus, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, and Julian Schnabel, as well as literary figures like poet Marianne Moore. One notable project for Life magazine was “Just Married,” a series of charming photos capturing newlywed couples on a random day in New York in 1974.
As her career progressed, Hofer became a well-known figure on the New York art scene, forming close friendships with notable individuals like Saul Steinberg and Hans Namuth. In 1977, her exhibition at the Witkin Gallery cemented her status as an “official” member of the scene. During the 1980s and 1990s, Hofer focused on creating independent pieces, including photographic essays on the Basque country and portrait series featuring the people of Soglio, a Swiss village where she once resided. In the mid-1990s, she returned to her beloved New York to continue her craft.
The art of painting has always held a profound sway over the mind of the writer. Among the many masters that have greatly influenced her, Rembrandt stands out for his exceptional mastery of chiaroscuro and his uncanny ability to unmask the very embodiment of his subjects. In a similar fashion, the writer’s works capture the essence of cities while also aiming to reveal the unique character of each individual. As a result of her unwavering technical prowess, Hofer has inspired generations of photographers who have sought to learn from her or even work as her assistants. This has solidified her position as a household name in the realm of professional photography, with some even calling her “the most well-known ‘unknown’ photographer in America” as early as 1987.
www.ftn-books.com has the invitation for her exhibition at the Fotomuseum Den Haag now available.
