Lisette Model 1901 – 1983

Biography

Lisette Model was born on November 10, 1901, in Vienna, Austria, during a time of profound cultural and artistic flourishing in the Austro-Hungarian capital. Her early years were shaped by the rich intellectual and creative environment of fin-de-siècle Vienna, a city that would prove formative to her artistic sensibility and vision.

Model’s career developed across continents, eventually establishing herself in the United States where she became recognized for her distinctive contributions to photography. Her work reflected a keen eye for human character and social observation, qualities that would define her artistic legacy throughout her lifetime.

In her later years, Model continued to work and contribute to the photographic arts until her death on March 30, 1983, in New York City. She passed away from respiratory disease at the age of eighty-one, leaving behind a body of work and influence that extended well beyond her lifetime.

Model’s artistic journey—from Vienna to America—represents a significant chapter in twentieth-century photography, and her legacy continues to resonate with those who study and appreciate the medium’s history and evolution.