Rue de la Lisette

Slipping through time, let’s journey back to 1934. A young woman named Lisette Model strolls along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France. She carries a camera, her eye drawn to the wealthy elite basking in the Mediterranean sun. This moment on the French Riviera, far from the Rue de la Lisette in Paris, is crucial to our story. It sparks Model’s distinct photographic style: close-ups, unvarnished and raw, revealing vanity, insecurity, and solitude. This style would become her trademark. Now, fast forward a few years. Lisette Model and her husband, the painter Evsa Model, have settled in Manhattan. The year is 1938. They’ve left behind the familiar charm of Parisian streets like Rue de la Lisette for the bustling energy of New York City. Model dives into her work, capturing the pulse of city life. Her photographs find a home in the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, thanks to Carmel Snow and Alexey Brodovitch. Model’s raw and revealing style resonates in the city’s vibrant art scene. She becomes a member of the New York Photo League and even has her first exhibition. In 1940, the Museum of Modern Art recognizes her talent, acquiring her photographs. Years later, in 1948, MoMA features Model’s work alongside other notable photographers like Bill Brandt, Harry Callahan, and Ted Croner. This solidifies her place in the world of photography. Model’s influence extends beyond her own artistic practice. She begins teaching at the New School for Social Research in 1951, sharing her unique perspective and inspiring a new generation of photographers. One of her most famous students is Diane Arbus, who studies with Model in 1957. While Model made her mark in New York, her connection to Paris, specifically the Rue de la Lisette, remains an interesting geographical footnote. Though we don’t have specific stories tied to Rue de la Lisette, we can imagine her spirit present in the everyday moments of Parisian life. Her keen eye for capturing the human condition transcends geographical boundaries.