"I was brought up on art. My father thought I had a great hand at art and sent me to art school. But he did not want me to become a photographer"
- Imogen Cunningham
About this Quote
Imogen Cunningham's quote speaks with the value of art in her training. Her dad acknowledged her skill and motivated her to pursue it by sending her to art school. Nevertheless, he did not want her to end up being a photographer, likely because he wanted her to pursue a more traditional kind of art. This recommends that photography was not seen as a genuine kind of art at the time, which her dad wanted her to pursue a more accepted type of art. Cunningham's quote speaks to the value of art in her life, and how her daddy's assistance enabled her to pursue her enthusiasm. It likewise speaks to the stigma that photography faced at the time, and how Cunningham was able to break through that preconception and become a successful photographer.