Lisette Model (1901–1983), born into a Viennese family with Jewish roots, is regarded as one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. The exhibition at the ALBERTINA is the most comprehensive presentation of her work in Austria to date, bringing together key bodies of work from 1933 to 1959. Alongside iconic photographs such as Bathing at Coney Island and Singer at the Metropole Café, the exhibition also features rarely shown works.

After initially pursuing a musical education, Model turned to photography in France in the mid-1920s. Her 1934 portrait series of wealthy leisure seekers in Nice caused a sensation with its uncompromising social critique. Following her emigration to New York in 1938, she quickly established herself as a sought-after freelance photographer for influential magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar. In powerful images, she captured the contrasts of urban life—from the poverty of the Lower East Side to the pastimes of the upper class and the vibrant nightlife of bars and jazz clubs.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Model produced major bodies of work outside New York, including on the US West Coast and in Venezuela, characterized by a melancholic and somber atmosphere. During the McCarthy era, she increasingly turned to teaching. In 1979, her first monograph was published by Aperture; the exhibition presents the original design of this now classic photobook for the first time.