Women Photographers. Women in Photography. The Photo Review, 20:2 (Spring 1997).

Entire issue, includes "On a History of Women Photographers," by Shelley Rice, et al.; "The Unexamined Life," by Nan Goldin; "Still Goldin" by Stephen Perloff; "The Music of Regret" by Laurie Simmons; "All Americans" by Stephen Perloff with photographs by Catherine Steinmann; "When Pictures Vanish" by Sigmar Polke; Barbara Crane Portfolio; review of AIPAD show; "Henry Buhl: An Interview" by Kay Kenny; et al. Fine.  Summary:

The Spring 1997 issue of The Photo Review (Volume 20, No. 2) is a dense, scholarly exploration of the female perspective in photography, balancing historical recovery with contemporary critique. It serves as a vital bridge between the foundational history of women in the medium and the provocative, postmodernist work of the late 20th century.

Historical and Academic Foundations

The issue is anchored by Shelley Rice’s lead essay, "On a History of Women Photographers." Rice, along with other contributors, critiques the traditional exclusion of women from the photographic canon. The piece argues for a narrative that recognizes women not just as participants, but as innovators who shaped the medium’s aesthetic and social functions.

Key Features and Portfolios

• Nan Goldin: "The Unexamined Life": This feature examines Goldin’s unapologetic, diaristic approach to photography. It explores her role in documenting the subcultures of New York, focusing on intimacy, addiction, and the raw "snapshot" aesthetic.

• Stephen Perloff: "Still Goldin": Perloff provides a critical companion to Goldin’s work, analyzing her enduring influence and the evolution of her color palette and emotional intensity as she moved into the late 90s.

• Laurie Simmons: "The Music of Regret": This section highlights Simmons’ conceptual work using dolls, ventriloquist dummies, and staged environments. It discusses her exploration of domestic archetypes, gender roles, and the "uncanny" nature of memory.

• Barbara Crane Portfolio: A dedicated portfolio showcases Crane’s career-long commitment to experimentation. Her work in this issue emphasizes her mastery of repetition, grid structures, and the abstraction of the human form and urban environment.

Critical Reviews and Perspectives

• "All Americans": Stephen Perloff reviews Catherine Steinmann’s work, which captures the diverse, often overlooked faces of American life, emphasizing themes of patriotism and everyday resilience.

• Sigmar Polke: "When Pictures Vanish": A departure from the strictly female-centric content, this piece looks at Polke’s experimental and often chaotic relationship with the photographic image, focusing on the chemical instability and the "disappearance" of the subject.

Significance of the Issue

This edition of The Photo Review is particularly significant for its intergenerational dialogue. By placing the rigorous historical analysis of Shelley Rice alongside the radical contemporary work of Goldin and Simmons, the magazine illustrates how women photographers transitioned from fighting for recognition to defining the cutting edge of contemporary art.

Editorial Note: The issue is a prime example of The Photo Review’s commitment to "critical distance," providing deep-form analysis that goes beyond the standard gallery review.