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- Through shaded glass: Women and photography in Aotearoa New Zealand 1860–1960
Through shaded glass: Women and photography in Aotearoa New Zealand 1860–1960
Part of Public History Talk — 2024 series
Wednesday 3 April 2024, 12:10pm to 1pm
Free
In the first Public History Talk for 2024, the author of ‘Through Shaded Glass: Women and Photography in Aotearoa New Zealand 1860–1960’ Lissa Mitchell, will talk about the hidden legacies of women photographers working in the sector prior to 1960.
Join us online or in person for this event.
The hidden legacies of New Zealand’s women photographers
The publication of Through Shaded Glass: Women and Photography in Aotearoa New Zealand 1860–1960 (Te Papa Press, 2023) represents a significant milestone in foregrounding the involvement and photographic work of over 190 women makers of photography in Aotearoa before 1960.
The book draws on years of primary research locating names, photographs, and researching the lives of women photographers. It explores photographic practise where women have made strong contributions that have been sidelined or overlooked in this country’s photographic histories to date.
Topics include collaborative working practises, photographers and the Second World War, non-binary practises, and the involvement of Māori women in making early photography here.
An illustrated lunchtime talk
This illustrated talk will focus on the hidden legacies of women photographers. Of particular focus will be the tension between the lives and work of three early commercial photographers — Frances Hamilton, Agnes Williamson, and Alice Brusewitz.
Can’t make it in person?
Can't make it in person? This event will also be delivered using Zoom. You do not need to install the software to attend, you can opt to run Zoom from your browser.
Register if you’d like to join this talk and we'll send you the link to use on the day.
Public history talks
These free Public History Talks are a collaboration between the Alexander Turnbull Library and Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage. They are usually held on the first Wednesday of the month, March to November.
The talks are recorded and you can find them at the Apple store, Spotify and Podbean #newzealandhistory.
Listen to previous public history talks
About the speaker
Lissa Mitchell is a photographic historian and curator of photography at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. They are the author of Through shaded glass: Women and photography in Aotearoa New Zealand 1860–1960 (Te Papa Press, 2023) and have contributed to numerous publications including An Alternative History of Photography (Prestel, 2022) and Brian Brake: Lens on the World (Te Papa Press, 2010).
Cover of Through shaded glass: Women and photography in Aotearoa New Zealand 1860–1960 (Te Papa Press, 2023).