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Strong, Beautiful Women: Lisa Larsen

lisa-larsen-LIFE-photographer-50s

I never cease to find new women to be inspired by. I’d like to share that inspiration with you all in a new blog series: Strong, Beautiful Women.

When Jen shared this photo of Lisa Larsen on her Honey Kennedy blog, it really caught my eye. Though it was taken in 1949, Larsen’s style is totally on par with how I dress: Keds, jeans, short curly brown hair… I decided I had to know more about her.

I was quite amazed by what I learned.

Larsen emigrated to the US from Germany with her family in the ’30s. At the age of 17 she graduated from college, then took off on a whirl-wind photography career, working for everyone from Glamour and Vogue, to the New York Times Magazine. She settled in at LIFE magazine, working there for 10 years. Sadly, she passed away from breast cancer in 1959. She was only 34 years old.

Her story gives me motivation to work harder on developing my skills. Push yourself to make every year count. Her life may have been cut short, but she had a prolific career:

anita-ekberg-eileen-ford-lisa-larsen Swedish model, Anita Ekberg, with Eileen Ford, head of Ford Modeling Agency, 1951. Lisa Larsen for LIFE magazine [Image Source: Pleasurephoto]grace-kelly-photo-lisa-larsenActress Grace Kelly, 1950s. Lisa Larsen for LIFE. [Image Source: Pleasurephoto]miss-sweden-anita-ekberg-a-model-fr-malmo-1951-lisa-larsen-bModel/Actress Anita Ekberg, 1951. Lisa Larsen for LIFE. [Image Source: Pleasurephoto] miss-sweden-anita-ekberg-a-model-fr-malmo-1951-lisa-larsenModel/Actress Anita Ekberg, 1951. Lisa Larsen for LIFE. [Image Source: Pleasurephoto]

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Swimsuit models in Miami, FL 1956. Lisa Larsen for LIFE. [Image Source: Quite Continental]

betty-spornitz-lisa-larsen-LIFE-1950

Betty Spornitz dancing “Kitten On The Keys” for University of North Dakota’s Flickertail Follies tallent show, 1950, where she won first prize.  [Image Source: Grey Flannel Suit]

lisa-larsen-crowd-photo-LIFEI am also very impressed by the way she captures individual faces amongst a crowd. LIFE created a this photo reel of them.

capezio-ballet-shoe-lisa-larsen-1949But as an ex-dancer, this photo of a woman tying the ribbons of a ballet shoe inside of a Capezio store in 1949 is by far my favorite. [Image Source]

Here is the eulogy LIFE wrote for Larsen:

Lisa Larsen liked people. And because, while being thoroughly professional, she was a very attractive person the people she photographed came to like her too…. In Russia in 1956, Khrushchev developed such admiration for her and her indefatigable work habits that he gave her a bouquet of peonies. Later she inspired an aside from Khrushchev during one of his cocky anti-Western speeches. “Don’t misunderstand me, ” he said, eying her in the audience. “There is an American girl standing in front of me. Americans are good people.”

Last week Lisa Larsen died. In 10 years with LIFE she had made a brilliant name for herself and won a shelf full of photographic awards. [Magazine Photographer of the Year in 1953 and ’58; Overseas Press Club award for her work in Mongolia and in Poland; etc.

[Ed.’s note] Her colleagues on LIFE — photographers, reporters, writers, editors — share the never-flagging interest she had in people. They will try to fill the gap, but they will sadly miss her vivacity and warmth.

 

Rachel Rasmussen

Rachel is a nerdy Oregon native with a philosophy degree and classical dance background. She fancies her personal style to be quirky sophistication, focusing on the importance of fit while adding special touches of handmade embellishments. She is also a connoisseur of whiskey and nap-taker extraordinaire.

Comments

Deanna

October 21, 2013 #

Thank you for this article. It is very inspirational. I am totally amazed at the picture of the crowd.
It certainly does make me want to strive to do better in anything and everything I choose to do, not wasting a moment.

Kimberly

October 21, 2013 #

Before reading this article I had never heard of Lisa Larsen. She certainly achieved many great accomplishments during her short life. It is very inspirational. Thank you for sharing.

sande

October 21, 2013 #

rachel, this is such an excellent article! I’d never heard of her before, but through your article, i feel i did know her, and i feel a personal loss that she is gone. thank you for acquainting me with this outstanding woman.

Rachel

October 21, 2013 #

I’m happy you enjoyed it!

Colleen

October 21, 2013 #

Wow. Amazing photographs!

Delightfully Peculiar

October 21, 2013 #

Very inspirational post and amazing pictures

gabriel ratchet

October 21, 2013 #

thank you so much for that.

Ann

October 21, 2013 #

Thanks so much for ferreting out these little nuggets for us. I love reading these and would never look for them myself. Thanks again.

F. K.

October 21, 2013 #

I love her style in the photo of her. She looks spunky, haha. Her work is beautiful, as well.

Betty Jordan Wester

October 21, 2013 #

This was great. I think I’m going to love this new series.

Rachel

October 21, 2013 #

Yay!

Leslie Stewart

October 21, 2013 #

Very moving. I loved this and will look forward to more in the series. Thank you so much.

Evan Weinstein

October 21, 2013 #

Love the photo, Tying Shoes… But Image Source doesn’t seem to list it in an online search. Where can I find it and buy a print, if you know? Many thanks in advance.

Rachel

October 21, 2013 #

I stumbled upon it while sifting through the internet, I’m not sure where you can buy it as a poster or print since it was originally a photograph for LIFE magazine.

andrea

October 21, 2013 #

I hadn’t heard of Lisa Larsen before now – great story and photos. I think my favourite strong beautiful woman would have to be Amelia Earhart (and played with such style by Hilary Swank). Look forward to more in this series.

Cathi

October 21, 2013 #

Wow, what a great woman to start off a great new series. Thank you.

Ulrike

October 22, 2013 #

Good morning,
I just stumbled over your blog and the article about Lisa Larsen of whom I never heard… so sad that this comes so late but I’m much impressed by her work.
Thank you so much for it
cheers
Ulrike

Natacha

October 22, 2013 #

A strong and beautiful woman indeed! Love her pictures. Too bad she went at such a young age. Thankfully nowadays, breast cancer does not mean you have to die of it. A reminder, if ever, of the importance of getting oneself checked regularly on that matter.

Thanks Rachel!

Jami

November 6, 2013 #

Thanks for the story and photos. I love learning about people.