Edward Steichen (Luxemourg 1879-Connecticut 1973); Vintage Photograph Portrait of "Maria Jeritza (Czechia 1887-New Jersey 1982) as Carmen" October 20, 1925, with "Photograph by Steichen / 80 West 40th Street" hand stamp filled in pencil "Studio / Stage / Mme. Jeritza." PROVENANCE: Ex collection of International Center of Photography "58/ICP 1983.1463" with ICP label and unexplained Christie's sticker and bar code. PUBLISHED: Vanity Fair January 1926 with "Used in issue of" stamp and "Vanity Fair" hand stamps. EXHIBITION: National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC, "Metropolitan Opera Centennial: A Photographic Album", November 15, 1984 to February 10, 1985; on loan from ICP with exhibition label (the exhibition also traveled to Detroit, Atlanta, and Cleveland). NOTE: Edward Steichen is credited with turning photography into an "art form." As the chief photographer for Conde Nast Publications, he invented modern Fashion Photography and was the highest paid photographer for many decades. After WW2 he was the Director of MoMA's Dept of Photography curating over 37 photo exhibitions helping to confirm photographs and photography as art. Maria Jeritza, Opera Soprano, was long associated in staring roles with The Vienna State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. She is still known as the golden girl of opera's ''golden age."