The story of Vivian Maier - or rather the story of a life once forgotten and an oeuvre now found - is no longer new, since the first items about it started trickling out in late 00s. Maier, an American who was raised largely in per WWII France, spent her life as a nanny, largely around Chicago. She was also a photographer, who left over 100,000 negatives when she passed away. Her life was not memorabe, her art unknown. Only after her death, when a real estate agent and local historical conservationist happened to find her collection of negatives while working on a book about a Chicago neighbourhood, did both emerge from oblivion. Since then Maier's life and art have come into the limelight. There have been exhibitions, there is a Wiki page. And now there is a documentary, "Finding Vivian Maier".
Here's a trailer:
It is a rare boon when re-discovered aritsts are actually any good. Maier was. Primarily a street photographer, she had a good eye for framing and detail. Her self-portraits are also terrific, unflinching, willing to find her image in any reflection - willing you to take notice of her, to look her in the eye.
And you know me - always a sucker for a good self-portrait.
Here are some examples:
And some non self-portraits:
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