Beaumont Newhall
(1908-1993)
"The Darkroom Window [of Edward Weston]," 1940
Silver gelatin on paper mounted to a board mount
Unsigned; titled and dated from labels affixed to the mat board
Image/Sheet: 8.875" H x 7" W; Mount: 10" H x 8" W
Provenance: Beaumont Newhall Collection, Santa Fe, NM
The Estate of Dr. Amy Conger

Literature: Edward Weston, "The Flame of Recognition," ed. Nancy Newhall (Millerton, NY: Aperture, 2017), 67.

Other Notes: Beaumont Newhall, born on June 22, 1908, in Lynn, Massachusetts, emerged as a luminary figure in the world of photography, marking his legacy as a curator, art historian, writer, and photographer. His childhood fascination with photography, influenced by his mother's darkroom work, seeded a lifelong passion. Despite his original interest in film and photography, Newhall pursued art history and museum studies at Harvard due to the absence of separate disciplines at the time.

His journey in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) began in 1935, where he started as a librarian and later curated the groundbreaking retrospective of photographic works in 1937. This landmark exhibition not only solidified photography's place in the arts but also spawned his acclaimed work, "The History of Photography," recognized as a fundamental text in photographic history.

Newhall's tenure at MoMA continued until 1940 when he became the institution's first photography curator. His contributions expanded the museum's collection, beginning with the works of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. World War II interrupted his career, leading him to serve as a photo-interpreter before returning to civilian life to train others.

Post-war, Newhall's pivotal role extended to the George Eastman Museum, where he served as curator from 1948 to 1958 and later as director until 1971. During his tenure, he amassed an extensive photographic collection and fostered the growth of influential publications like Image.

Beyond his museum roles, Newhall's commitment to education led him to teach photography's history at various institutions, including the University of Rochester and the Salzburg Seminar in American Studies. His late career saw him as a professor at the University of New Mexico until his retirement.

Beaumont Newhall passed away on February 26, 1993, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, leaving behind a profound legacy in the world of photography. His contributions, including his seminal book and his dedicated curatorship, remain integral to the understanding and appreciation of the art form.

Overall good condition. The sheet is framed floating and mounted to a board mount, and the mount is loose, not matted.

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