Vivian Maier: Self Portraits
"Self Portrait: My Impressions of Vivian Maier"
I am not sure if we can read the “self” in Vivian Maier’s self-portraiture or even chart the progression of her life through her images. We look at her self-portraits for revelations, but she does not really give us much. She is alone in her reflections. Her viewpoint difficult to judge. No hint of emotion or reaction. Never a portrait with a partner. She is seldom with a friend, occasionally with a child. The strength of Maier’s character is found in the persona looking back at us. There is little compromise; and ironically for such a private, autonomous person, her self-portraits are some of her strongest work thus far...She saw the world through a skillful eye, but never trusted anyone to bear witness or audience to her work.“ – Elizabeth Avedon
"Vivian Maier: Self Portraits”
Photographs by Vivian Maier
Edited by John Maloof
Essay by Elizabeth Avedon
Published by powerHouse Books, 2013