The title, “Packing Up,” offers a clue to the narrative unfolding before us. Is the nanny preparing to depart, bidding farewell to the young boy who has become a fixture in her daily life? Or perhaps, the family is packing up for holidays, leaving the boy to grapple with the uncertainty of change.
Regardless of the circumstances, the essence of the photograph lies in the boy’s expression – a fleeting moment frozen in time, brimming with emotion and ambiguity. His furrowed brow and expressive concern betray a sense of unease, unknowing. Is he sensing the loss of someone important in his young life? Is his favourite nanny leaving him?
In the realm of fine art and street photography, Vivian Maier’s lens captured moments of raw humanity and quiet introspection, inviting viewers to ponder the mysteries of everyday life. Among her masterpieces, “Packing Up” stands out as a poignant tableau, drawing us into a world of subtle gestures and unspoken emotions. It is at moments like this that Vivian Maier would have been happy being a nanny photographer.
Unpacking Vivian Maier’s “Packing Up”
At first glance, the photograph appears deceptively simple – a young naked boy peers into a suitcase, his expression a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Yet, as we linger over the image, we are drawn deeper into its layers of meaning and nuance.
What makes “Packing Up” truly masterful is its ability to evoke a multitude of emotions and interpretations. With a single click of her shutter, Maier invites us to step into the shoes of the young boy, if he had any on, to experience the world through his eyes, and to contemplate the fleeting nature of human connection.
“Packing Up” from 1955 shows that Vivian Maier’s unparalleled talent as a photographer had reached the stella heights of ‘fine art’ within a few years of her first picking up a camera. Through her keen observation and masterful composition, she transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, revealing the beauty and complexity of everyday life in all its nuanced glory.
A Glimpse into the Nuances of Everyday Life of a Nanny
“Packing Up” New York, by Vivian Maier, circa 1955. © 2017 The Estate of Vivian Maier. All rights reserved. A prime example of Vivian Maier’s life as a nanny. The intrigue of Maier’s photos has us wondering what is going on: is this nanny’s suitcase? If so, this would be in nanny’s quarters. Those white shirts inside seem new, and the cloth or is it paper covering them adds to the mystery. A suspicious mind would ask if the photographer noticed the angle of the light and moved the table to this spot? The coffee table on which the suitcase rests is perpendicular to the sunlight coming in, isolating one leg of the table against the shadows.
The boys nanny, Vivian Maier brilliantly captures the instant that the boy shows vulnerability and concern. As viewers of Vivian Maier’s photograph, we ponder the question: What is going on in the young boy’s mind? Is he mourning the departure of a beloved caregiver, or simply grappling with the uncertainty of the unknown? In this decisive moment, Vivian Maier captures the essence of childhood, the bare legs of the furniture and the boy against the shadows – a time of wonder, confusion, and endless intrigue.
“Packing Up” serves as a poignant reminder of Maier’s keen eye for capturing the nuances of everyday life. As viewers explore the image, they are drawn into a narrative of uncertainty and transition, where a young boy’s gaze speaks volumes about the complexities of human emotion.
“Packing Up” Joins the “Genesis of Genius” Exhibition
Step into the captivating world of Vivian Maier as her iconic photograph, “Packing Up,” takes center stage in the touring photography exhibition, “Vivian Maier: Genesis of Genius.” This remarkable showing of original vintage prints from Vivian Maier’s suitcases offers a rare glimpse into Maier’s early work in France, alongside the timeless elegance of her large format vintage print, “Sunday Best.”
This captivating photograph is complemented by Maier’s early work in France, offering a comprehensive overview of her artistic evolution. From the narrow streets of quaint villages to her first photo essay on Working Men, Maier’s lens captures the essence of French life with remarkable clarity and depth. “Vivian Maier: Genesis of Genius” displays her earliest snapshots with a Box Brownie camera to these two iconic images captured while working as a nanny in New York circa 1955.
Vivian Maier (American, 1926-2009)
Sunday Best, circa 1950s
Gelatin silver print
12-3/4 x 10-1/2 inches (32.4 x 26.7 cm) (image)
14 x 11 inches (sheet)
Vivian Maier (American, 1926-2009)
Packing Up, circa 1955
Gelatin silver print
4-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches (11.4 x 8.9 cm) (image)
4-3/4 x 4 inches (sheet)
Inscribed in pencil, verso. Credited and dated on label affixed to mount verso.
Sunday Best is a rare example of Vivian Maier’s large format photography. Fewer than 300 exhibition sized prints such as this are known to exist, and they stand as powerful evidence of her artistry and of how she chose to present her work in her lifetime. Bannos reveals that Maier displayed exceptional conscientiousness in how her work was developed, printed, and cropped, despite her deliberate decision never to exhibit it.
With two fine examples showing her work as a nanny, “Packing Up” and “Sunday Best” by Vivian Maier reinforce that there is every reason to suspect that she was a photographer first, and became a nanny to gain access to her favourite subject: children. Every detail is meticulously composed to perfection, as the artist invites viewers to immerse themselves in a world of the nanny, as she dresses the children in their finest and placates them with a bretzel as she bundles them out the door for their Sunday family outing.
Maier’s mastery of the photographic medium is evident in this large format vintage print that Vivian chose to print in an exhibition size format. Together, “Packing Up” and “Sunday Best” form a dynamic duo that showcases the breadth and depth of Vivian Maier’s genius. As they travel from city to city, these photographs serve as a testament to Maier’s enduring legacy and her unparalleled contribution to the world of photography.
The captivating lens of Vivian Maier
From the streets of France to candid photos of children of New York’s wealthy, each photograph tells a story – a story of beauty, complexity, and the timeless allure of the human experience. Don’t miss your chance to witness history in the making as “Vivian Maier: Genesis of Genius” comes to a city near you. Contact us to host the “Vivian Maier: Genesis of Genius” photo exhibition.
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