TINA MODOTTI

ITALIAN PHOTOGRAPHER
AU G U S T 1 6 , 1 8 9 6 - J A N UA RY 5 , 1 9 4 2

By Meredith Giltner

TINA MODOTTI
Italian photographer,
active in Mexico. She
emigrated to the USA in
1918 and met Edward
Weston in 1921, moving
with him to Mexico City
in 1923. There he taught
her photography.

Edward Weston, 1924.

TINA MODOTTI
Both Frida Kahlo and Tina Modotti
were artists working in Mexico in
the aftermath of the Revolution,
during a period of general cultural
awakening and social change.

Frida Kahlo, 1927.

TINA MODOTTI
! Most of Tina Modotti's work that is
known to the photography world was
done in Mexico in the years 1923
through 1926, when she lived and
worked with Edward Weston. She
apparently continued to work after 1926,
at least until 1930, when she was
deported from Mexico for Communist
activity

Mellas Typewritter, 1928.

TINA MODOTTI

Staircase, 1924-1926.

TINA MODOTTI

Interior of
Church Tower,
1924.

TINA MODOTTI

Convent of Tepotzotlan,
Mexico. 1924.

TINA MODOTTI

Telephone Wires, Mexico 1925.

Folds of Cloth, 1924.

TINA MODOTTI

Calla, 1927.

Cactus, 1925.

TINA MODOTTI

Cactus Flower, 1926.

TINA MODOTTI
The softness of the petals against
the form of the rose is very inviting.
The shape of the petals and the
rhythm of the circular pattern they
make draws the eye to see
where the edge of the image is.
The image really emphasizes the
delicate nature of the roses. The
balance and unity is very well done.
Roses, 1925.

TINA MODOTTI
The contrast in this image is very soft.
The value between the white and greys
enhances the selective focus.
The form of the Calla Lily and the
movement of the petal draws your eye
Into the picture.
The lack of color makes this a strong
image.
Calla Lily, 1924-1926.

TINA MODOTTI
! The contrast of this picture is more
about the black and white aspects of the
flower. The softness of the white part of
the flower breaks up the image into thirds.
While one may focus on the flower, the
actual leaf and stem show value and form.
The lines in this image paly a role in how
one looks at it.

Easter Lily and Bud, 1925.

WORK INSPIRED BY TINA

MODOTTI

Cactus, 2015.

WORK INSPIRED BY TINA

MODOTTI

Flower Series
#1 and #2, 2015.

WORK INSPIRED BY TINA

MODOTTI

Star Cactus, 2015.

RESOURCES
!

Slide #1

Tina Modotti at an exhibition of her work at the National Library in Mexico City, 1929 Courtesy Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images.

http://www.manifestajournal.org/issues/fungus-contemporary/place-out-history

Slide #2

Edward Weston, 1924.

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4039&page_number=22&template_id=1&sort_order=1

Slide #3

Frida Kahlo, 1927.

http://www.fridakahlo.it/en/modotti.php

Slide #4

Text from John Szarkowski, Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of the Museum of Modern Art

Mellas Typewritter, 1928.

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4039&page_number=29&template_id=1&sort_order=1

RESOURCES CONT
!

Slide #5

Staircase, 1924-1926.

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4039&page_number=8&template_id=1&sort_order=1

Slide #6

Interior of Church Tower, 1924.

Slide #7

Convent of Tepotzotlan, Mexico. 1924.

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4039&page_number=20&template_id=1&sort_order=1

Slide #8

Telephone Wires, Mexico 1925.

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4039&page_number=2&template_id=1&sort_order=1

Folds of Cloth, 1924.

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4039&page_number=1&template_id=1&sort_order=1

RESOURCES CONT.
!

Slide #9

Calla, 1927.

http://imgkid.com/tina-modotti-photographs.shtml

Cactus, 1925.

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4039&page_number=23&template_id=1&sort_order=1

Slide #10

Cactus Flower, 1926.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7948671

Slide #11

Roses, 1925.

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/M/modotti/modotti_roses.html

Slide #12

Calla Lily, 1924-1926.

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4039&page_number=19&template_id=1&sort_order=1

Slide #13

Easter Lily and Bud, 1925.

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4039&page_number=3&template_id=1&sort_order=1