Rosalind Fox Solomon, a photographer known for her striking black-and-white portraits, died on Monday in Manhattan. She was 95. Her death was confirmed by the MUUS Collection, a photography archive that represents her work. Ms.
Fox Solomon was often compared to Diane Arbus for her unsettling images. But critics praised her ability to bring warmth and humanity to her subjects, even those who at first seemed strange or off-putting. In “Poke Bonnet, First Mondays, Scottsboro, Alabama” (1976), which appears in her 2018 book, “Liberty Theater,” she captured a white woman who seems pleased with herself and overconfident.
These qualities take on a complex shading given the picture’s historical and social context. Unlike the grotesque or cartoonish figures that her peers often highlighted, Ms. Fox Solomon’s subjects retained a strong sense of presence and relatability within the frame.
Ms. Fox Solomon was sometimes seen as having an approach that was both intense and humane. Her work, which captured a range of perspectives and emotional depths, earned her a lasting place in the art world.
Her photographs continue to have an impact today. They offer a deep look at the human condition through a lens of empathy and nuance. Ms.
Fox Solomon was born in Highland Park, Ill., in 1930.
Fox Solomon’s impactful portraits
She graduated from Goucher College in Maryland.
After marrying Joel Warren Solomon and moving to Chattanooga, Tenn., she raised two children while developing an interest in cross-cultural understanding. A trip to Japan in 1968 with the Experiment in International Living sparked her interest in photography. At age 38, she began to pursue it as a career, studying with the influential photographer Lisette Model in New York City.
In 1979, Ms. Fox Solomon won a Guggenheim Fellowship, which allowed her to expand her practice internationally. She photographed in countries like Guatemala, Peru, India and South Africa.
Her career included many exhibitions, notably a major solo show at the Museum of Modern Art, “Rosalind Fox Solomon: Ritual,” in 1986. This show cemented her status as an important figure in contemporary photography. For 40 years, she lived in a downtown loft, often photographing scenes in nearby Washington Square Park.
She found metaphors and symbols in moments both mundane and profound. She remained active into her 90s, with her final book, “A Woman I Once Knew” (2024), combining memoir and self-portraits to reflect a life lived with intensity, curiosity and artistic courage. Ms.
Fox Solomon’s work celebrates the connection between artist and subject. It captures the essence of human experience across cultures and contexts. She leaves an enduring imprint on the field of photography.
