"I don't talk about success. I don't know what it is. Wait until I'm dead"

Imogen Cunningham's quote, "I do not discuss success. I don't know what it is. Wait until I'm dead", provides an extensive commentary on the nature of success and its measurement. Her words suggest a deferment of judgment on one's tradition up until after their life has actually ended.

First of all, Cunningham's assertion, "I don't talk about success", reflects her modesty and possibly a reluctance to specify her life's work in the standard criteria of success. In a world where success is frequently corresponded with recognition, wealth, or status, Cunningham's statement obstacles these superficial requirements. She implies that success is not something she can speak about with authority, maybe since she views it as subjective, elusive, or not the ultimate goal of her endeavors.

Her follow-up, "I don't understand what it is", carries an underlying suspicion and even ambivalence towards the extremely idea of success. It recommends that she views success as an abstract idea that is not easily specified or always important. This viewpoint welcomes us to reassess how we perceive success in our own lives. Perhaps success, in Cunningham's view, has to do with intrinsic satisfaction rather than external validation-- a perspective that highlights personal satisfaction and passion over social accolades.

Finally, "Wait until I'm dead" provides a poignant commentary on the temporality and subjectivity of success. This part of the quote may recommend that the true essence of one's life and work can only be totally valued in retrospection. After all, many artists and visionaries are frequently just renowned after their passing, when their contributions are recognized in the context of a bigger historical narrative.

In this light, the quote challenges us to assess our understanding of success. It motivates us to focus less on immediate rewards and more on genuine self-expression and the enduring impact of our actions and productions. Through her words, Cunningham leaves us with the idea that real success may be undetectable and indefinable till seen through the lens of a total life.