Hailed by Ansel Adams as “the greatest photographer of the nude,” Ruth Bernhard is renowned for her evocative yet restrained nudes, elegant still lifes, and striking photographs of natural forms. Her work often reveals a subtle surrealist influence, evident in her ability to transform everyday objects into enigmatic and dreamlike compositions.

After studying art history and typography at the Berlin Academy of Art, Bernhard moved to New York in 1927, where she worked as a photographer’s assistant for a magazine. It was in California in 1935, after meeting Edward Weston, that she began to seriously pursue a career in photography. Inspired by Weston’s mastery of form and light, Bernhard embraced a meticulous approach to composition that defined her signature style.

Though not a formal member of Group f/64, Bernhard was closely associated with its leading figures, including Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, and Imogen Cunningham. This connection, along with her dedication to sharp focus and form, helped solidify her reputation as a formidable artist. By the time she relocated to San Francisco in the 1950s, she was already a well-established photographer.

From 1967 onward, Bernhard taught creative photography through workshops and lectures across the United States, sharing her knowledge and philosophy with a new generation of photographers. She continued to teach until her 95th birthday, demonstrating her enduring commitment to the medium.

Among her many accolades, Bernhard received the Dorothea Lange Award from the Oakland Art Museum in 1975 and a Certificate of Honor from the city of San Francisco in 1978. Her work is held in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, among others.