Rudolf Eickemeyer Jr. started taking photographs in 1884 while working at his father's engineering firm. In 1889, he joined the local camera club in Yonkers, New York, and began contributing articles on photographic chemistry, lighting, and technique to journals like the Photographic Times. He turned professional in 1896, relying on commercial work for financial support while continuing to develop his skills as an art photographer. Eickemeyer gained critical acclaim in America and Europe for his landscape and portrait photography.
In 1901, Eickemeyer was hired by architect Stanford White to photograph Evelyn Nesbit, an aspiring model and performer. The resulting images helped establish Nesbit's career and are among the most recognized of Eickemeyer's body of work.
Shortly before his death in 1932, Eickemeyer endowed a fund for the development of the Smithsonian's Section of Photography and donated a large portion of his personal collection.
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