Ruth St. Denis
c. 1929
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image/sheet: 24 × 18.2 cm (9 7/16 × 7 3/16 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund
Accession Number
2023.105.2
Art Historical Context
This striking gelatin silver print, titled *Ruth St. Denis and created by Soichi Sun around 1929, captures the of one of modern dance's founding figures. Ruth St. Denis, a trailblazing performer known for blending Eastern and Western influences in her choreography, is immortalized here during the vibrant era of American modernism. Sunami, a Japanese-American photographer renowned for his elegant documentation of dance artists, employs a poised composition that highlights her expressive presence, likely evoking the grace and innovation of her Denishawn era performances. The medium—gelatin silv...