Weston, one of the most important photographers of the 20th century, built his success through the women in his life: those he was influenced by, like bohemian photographer Margrethe Mather and painter Henrietta Shore; those who were his students and lovers, like Tina Modotti and Sonya Noskowiak; the many muses and girlfriends he photographed, including Bertha Wardell and Charis Wilson, shown here; and his long-suffering first wife, Flora (née Chandler), whose family money and raising of their four sons supported his early career.

Wilson was particularly important to Weston’s career, modeling for his best-known nude studies, assisting him as a driver and printer, and writing a successful application for his first Guggenheim Fellowship. In this erotic image from early in their 12-year relationship, Weston captured Wilson after she playfully rolled down the dunes. The bright light outlines her body with sharp, dark shadows, her face hidden while her body splays out on the sand.

—Text taken from the Carter Handbook (2023)