Early 20th Century Poet Untermeyer Portrait

This glass negative features Louis Untermeyer, a prominent poet and literary critic known for his influential role in American literature during the early 20th century. Taken between 1910 and 1915 by the Bain News Service, this photograph captures a period when Untermeyer was gaining recognition for his work in both poetry and criticism. He was deeply involved in the modernist movement, often championing innovative voices in literature and promoting the work of fellow poets like Hart Crane and William Carlos Williams.

The Bain News Service was notable for its extensive documentation of American life in the early 1900s. By providing portraits of key cultural figures like Untermeyer, it played a crucial role in disseminating images of influential personalities to a wider audience. This photographic practice highlights the transition in media, showing how images were used not just for news but also for creating a visual record of significant contributors to society. Untermeyer’s literary contributions and editorial work significantly shaped the poetic landscape of his time, making this photograph a notable artifact of early 20th-century literature and journalism.