Marie Ouspenskaya Rabinovitch, Ben Magid  (American, 1884–1964)

Identified as Ravgravures these beautiful prints appear to be high quality hand-pulled photogravures made from Ravinovitch’s photographs. They are presented in a simple folio containing ten images and printed in an edition of 100 on handmade paper. The label of the portfolio, which also acts as a colophon states there are an additional 25 sets on calfskin.

Ben Magid Rabinovitch (1884-1964) was a photographer, gallery owner, and founder of the Studio Gallery Photography School, later the Rabinovitch Photography Workshop. Born in the Ukraine, his family brought him to New York in 1887. Prior to the First World War he worked as an accountant. He served in the American Army during the conflict and upon his return, took up photography.

Rabinovitch experimented with various photographic media, including bromoil prints, but became an adamant opponent of "mixed" and "controlled" photography. In 1920 he opened "The Studio School of Art Photography" at his studio and gallery, billed as "a small personal school . . . for those who see differently." The school was one of the three important New York photographic academies during the inter war years, and continued to be an important presence with a definable style until the mid 1950s. He also wrote a brief instructional monograph, How To Learn Photography, that remained in print during his lifetime.

Reproduced / Exhibited

Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery NPG 89.192 (silver print)

References

https://npg.si.edu/object/npg_NPG.89.192