Mary Steen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Steen
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 28 October 1856 |
| Died | 7 April 1939 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | Danish |
| Occupation | photographer |
Mary Dorothea Frederica Steen (born October 28, 1856 – died April 7, 1939) was a talented Danish photographer. She was also a strong supporter of women's rights. When she was 28, Mary opened her own photography studio in Copenhagen. She became very good at taking pictures indoors, which was tricky back then!
Mary later made history as Denmark's first female photographer for the royal family. She even photographed the British royal family, including Queen Victoria. Mary also worked hard to make things better for women working in photography.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Mary Steen was born in a village in Jutland, Denmark. Her father, Niels Jensen Steen, was a schoolteacher. As a teenager, Mary moved to Copenhagen. She finished school at the Women's Business School. However, she soon realized that office work was not for her.
Mary decided to try photography instead. She trained to be a photographer first in Sweden. Then, she continued her training with a photographer in Copenhagen.
A Professional Photographer
In 1884, when Mary was 28 years old, she opened her own photography studio. It was located on Amagertorv in the center of Copenhagen.
Winning Awards
Mary's work quickly gained attention. At the 1888 Nordic Exhibition, she won a silver medal. This award was for her photos of both royal families and regular people in their homes. She also showed her amazing pictures at the 1893 World Exhibition in Chicago.
Specializing in Indoor Photography
Mary Steen was especially good at taking pictures indoors. This was a difficult skill back then because electricity was not common. Her photos from the Flerons' house in Copenhagen are some of the first to show people inside their own homes.
Some of her indoor photos were even published in a magazine called Illustreret Tidende. These pictures were from a series called Et minde fra Fredensborg i fjor (Last year's memories of Fredensborg).
Working with Royalty
In 1888, Mary became the first female court photographer. She worked for Princess Alexandra, who later married Edward VII of Great Britain.
Around 1895, Princess Alexandra invited Mary to London. There, Mary photographed many members of the British royal family. This included Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle.
Mary Steen closed her studio in 1918. She had to stop working because she was becoming very deaf.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Mary Steen was a strong supporter of women's rights. In 1891, she became the first woman to join the board of the Danish Photographers Association.
She was also active in the Danish Women's Society (Dansk Kvindesamfund). She served on their board from 1889 to 1892. Mary, along with another photographer named Julie Laurberg, took pictures of the most important women in the Danish women's movement.
In 1891, Mary received a special grant. This allowed her to travel to Germany and Vienna to learn more.
Improving Working Conditions
Mary Steen worked hard to improve working conditions for women. She pushed for things like eight days of holiday and a half-day off on Sundays. She also treated her own employees very well, paying them good wages.
Mary Steen's Legacy
Mary Steen believed that photography was a true art form. During her time, photography was becoming a popular job for women.
Agnes Henningsen, who trained with Mary Steen in 1895, wrote about her in her memories. She described Mary as powerful and full of energy. Mary Steen was a determined person who encouraged others to follow their dreams, especially in photography.
