Elizabeth Buehrmann

Elizabeth Buehrmann (c. 1886 – c. 1965) was born June 13, 1886, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Buehrmann was an American photographer and artist who was one of the pioneers of taking formal portraits of people in their own homes rather than in a studio.

Early life and education

Per Ancestry.com Elizabeth Buehrmann was born in Missouri to her parents, Otto and Mary (Williams), who had 5 children, only of which two were living in the 1910 census. Otto was a salesman and was born in Hanover Germany, per the 1920 census. By 1920 Elizabeth's mother had died, so Otto moved to New York City with Elizabeth and lodged with her at 230 E. 11th Street. Otto was listed as a "lecturer and artist, private practice" in the 1920 census. She had a sister, Mary, that was 12 years older (and at the age of 35 was still single and living at home with her parents though had her occupation listed as "reader"). She lived at 129 E. 10th Street in June 1929.

She grew up in Chicago, and from her early success her family appears to have been financially well-off and socially connected. They rented a house at 5209 Jefferson Avenue in Chicago. At about the age of 15 she enrolled in painting and drawing classes at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Career

Buehrmann specialized in taking portraits of clients in their homes, and she never used artificial scenery or props. She said "I have never had a studio at home but take my pictures in houses. A person is always much more apt to be natural, and then I can get different background effects." She also did not pose her subjects; instead she would "spend several hours getting acquainted with her subjects before attempting to reproduce the character found in an interesting face."

In 1906–07, she spent a year living in London and Paris in order to learn the latest techniques and styles of European photographers. As another sign of her prominence, she was invited to join the Photo-club de Paris, where she worked for several months.

In 1909 Stieglitz included three of her prints in the prominent National Arts Club exhibition which he organized. Another photographer, Robert Demachy, insisted her prints be included in an important show he was organizing in Paris the next year.

Collections of Buhermann's work are held by The Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the New York Public Library.