Lillian Gish, 1929

About the Work

One, two, three... how many women? Beaton thought up a clever pose for Lillian Gish, the American star of silent movies. The mirrors multiply her, while the background remains out of focus. Gish appears to be strong and confident, yet vulnerable. Her lipstick is quiet, her hair cropped: a typical woman of the 1920s. Beaton, one of the most successful photographers of this period, had a preference for decorations and elaborate arrangements.