Gentlewoman - Olivier, Sigurd & Mark Swift

Gentlewoman is a book about femininity.

Nine years ago Sigurd Olivier was photographing Vogue model Catherine Whiting and produced the picture which is on the cover of this book. The quality of warmth between a woman and her child which this picture portrays, led to his taking 5 000 photographs in an attempt to depict the femininity in women.

He has shown that femininity exists not only in 18 year old sylph like beauties, but in plump and thin women, young, middle-aged and old. The photographs, which span babyhood to 102 years, are warm, human images which show his empathy with his subjects.

When the project was almost completed, he was introduced to the outstanding young poet, Mark Swift. The two clicked instantly,. The poet produced in words what the photographer had done with pictures. The words stand on their own, yet blend beautifully with the photographs. Although Mark Swift does not regard his work in Gentlewoman as a series of poems, he felt that a verse structure was appropriate to the lyricism 0f the photographs and their theme.

Gentlewoman is an unusual book. It shows woman at her most feminine. It shows gentle woman.

Hardcover. English. Don Nelson. 1976 2nd impression. Unpaginated. In good condition with worn dw. Book No: 2000087