Weston, Edward. Artful Lives: Edward Weston, Margrethe Mather, and the Bohemians of Los Angeles by Beth Gates Warren.

J. Paul Getty Museum, 2011.  Hardcover with protected dust jacket, fine/fine.  384 pages, including 84 pages of notes, chronology, and index. A well-written and professionally researched history of the art scene in Los Angeles, with a focus on the period 1913 to 1923 and the leading roles played by photographers Edward Weston and his partner Margrethe Mather, who deserves to be better known. With nearly 90 illustrations.  I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it for those who enjoy reading about photographers and for scholars in art history and history of photography. Summary:

Artful Lives (2011) by Beth Gates Warren is a meticulously researched dual biography that reconstructs the intense artistic and personal partnership between Edward Weston and Margrethe Mather. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles’s burgeoning bohemian scene between 1912 and 1923, the book challenges the traditional "lone genius" narrative of Weston’s career, revealing Mather as his most vital collaborator and stylistic equal.

Core Themes and Narrative

• The "Mather" Influence: Warren argues that Margrethe Mather was the primary catalyst for Weston’s transition from soft-focus Pictorialism to a more sophisticated, modernist aesthetic. Mather was a fully formed artist when they met, and the book documents how her "eye" for minimalist, Asian-inspired composition profoundly shaped Weston's early masterpieces.

• L.A. Bohemia: The book provides a vivid social history of Los Angeles before it became "Hollywood." It explores the circle of anarchists, poets, and sexual radicals (the "Bohemians") that Weston and Mather moved within, showing how their progressive social lives informed their radical approach to the camera.

• A Partnership of Equals: Unlike typical "muse" narratives, Warren presents a professional synergy. Mather was a partner in the Weston studio, and the two co-signed prints—a rare level of professional parity for the era.

Visual and Technical Style

• The Transition to Modernism: The volume tracks the shift from the "painterly" 19th-century "finish" to the sharp, high-contrast clarity of the 20th century. It highlights their use of platinum and palladium prints, which provided a tonal depth and "extra finish" that defined the high-art photography of the period.

• Minimalist Composition: The book features works characterized by bold use of negative space, long shadows, and the isolation of the human form—techniques that would eventually lead to Weston’s world-famous "Straight Photography."