I recently learned about two accomplished women—one a photographer and the other an artist. Both women were successful in their fields and their paths did ultimately cross. In a future post, I’ll tell you about the artist.
But, the first of these women I want to write about is Nina Leen, one of the first female photographers for Life magazine. She was born in Russia but grew up in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Ms. Leen’s subjects included an assortment ranging from European royalty, socialites, Paris fashion models to aspiring actresses.
In the early 1900’s, she recorded the construction of a Benedictine abbey. The photographs of the good nuns are timeless. The love and care they held for their abbey travel over time and distance. Although their images were taken more than a hundred years ago, the joy of their religious lives still shines through as if it were yesterday. I can only pray that these good and faithful sisters are with their Divine Spouse in Heaven.
I don’t know if Ms. Leen was Roman Catholic, but I am grateful that she took these photographs. For me her work is a bridge to “the communion of saints” and leads me to a greater sense of awe for my religious heritage.