laviniaschulz by Thomas Ruff

**Thomas Ruff ~** neg◊laviniaschulz_07, 2021, c-print. Work from the series *of Negative* | src Mai 36 Galerie

The neg◊laviniaschulz subgroup from the series of Negative are expressionist dance studies of the dancer Lavinia Schulz and the actor Walter Holdt in full-body masks, which they both designed together in the early 1920s.
The starting point of the series are photographs of the 19th and 20th century (by Minya Diez-Dührkoop), which have a typical brown patina and whose motifs cover the entire range of historical photography. When these photographs are inverted (reversing the positive into the negative), a high-contrast blue tone emerges, and the compositional design comes to the fore. Thus, the negative, the actual ‘original’ of a photograph, which threatens to disappear completely due to the triumph of digital photography, becomes the object of contemplation.

text adapted from source : Mai 36 Galerie

**Thomas Ruff ~** neg◊laviniaschulz_16, 2021, c-print. Work from the series *of Negative* | src Mai 36 Galerie

**Thomas Ruff ~** neg◊laviniaschulz_14, 2021, c-print. Work from the series *of Negative* | src Mai 36 Galerie

Tanzstudie · Mario von Bucovich

**Mario von Bucovich ~** «Tanzstudie». Luly von Meyern-Hohenberg. Die schöne Frau Nr. 2, 1926 | src ÖNB

«Tanzstudie». Luly von Meyern-Hohenberg. Atelier : Karl Schenker / Aufnahme : Mario von Bucovich

Dance study by Drtikol

**Frantisek Drtikol** (1883–1961) ~ Nude dance study, Prague, ca. 1919. Vintage silver print | src Ostlicht Photo Auction 2023

**František Drtikol** (1883–1961) ~ Nude dance study, Prague, ca. 1919 (detail) | src Ostlicht Photo Auction 2023

Leaping dancer by Delight Weston

Irma Delight Weston :: Dance Liftoff, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed — **Irma Delight Weston ::** Dance Liftoff, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed

Delight Weston :: Airborne dancer, 1921. Bromide print. — **Irma Delight Weston ::** Airborne dancer, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed

These pictorial studies of a female dancer leaping are believed to have been taken at the former Ruth Doing Camp for Rhythmics in New York state’s Adirondack mountains. In the 1920’s and 30’s, photographer Delight Weston lived with camp founders Ruth Doing (1881-1966) and Gail Gardner (1878-1949) in New York City, along with other women artists, in a building at 139 W. 56th St. near Carnegie Hall.

Established in 1916, the summer camp was first located on the shores of Upper Chateaugay lake near Lyon Mountain until 1925, when it moved to Upper St. Regis Lake in Paul Smiths, New York. Renamed the Gardner-Doing Camp after this time, it was coeducational: besides regular summer camp activities, it specialized in the “rhythmic” style of dancing popularized by famed dancer Isadora Duncan, whom Ruth Doing was a former student of. Doing’s life partner, Michigan native Gail Gardner, had earlier made a name for herself as an accomplished and world-traveling opera singer. [quoted from Photoseed]

Irma Delight Weston :: Leaping dancer, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed — **Irma Delight Weston ::** Leaping dancer, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed

Delight Weston :: Leaping dancer, 1921. Bromide print. — **Irma Delight Weston ::** Leaping dancer, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed

Delight Weston :: Outstretched arms. Rhythmic dance study, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed — **Delight Weston ::** Outstretched arms. Rhythmic dance study, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed

Two dancers by Delight Weston

Delight Weston :: Rhythmic Dancing Study, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed

Irma Delight Weston :: Rhythmic Dancing Study, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed — **Irma Delight Weston ::** Rhythmic Dancing Study, 1921. Bromide print. | src Photoseed

These pictorial studies of two female dancers in motion are believed to have been taken at the former Ruth Doing Camp for Rhythmics in New York state’s Adirondack mountains. In the 1920’s and 30’s, photographer Delight Weston lived with camp founders Ruth Doing (1881-1966) and Gail Gardner (1878-1949) in New York City, along with other women artists, in a building at 139 W. 56th St. near Carnegie Hall.