A portrait of the essential female celebrating woman in her most intimate moments of reflection and self-discovery. Photographs by Sigurd Olivier and verse by Mark Swift.

Sigurd Olivier, a South-African born photographer, believes femininity exists not only in 18-year-old sylphlike beauties, but also in women plump and thin, young, middle-aged, and old. Thus, his photographs for this book range from babyhood to the mature woman — warm, human images that show his empathy for his subjects.

Mark Swift is a South-African poet. Although he does not regard his work in Gentlewoman as a series of poems, he felt that a verse structure was appropriate to the lyricism of the photographs and their theme. The words stand on their own, yet blend beautifully with Olivier’s photographs.

Published by Grosset & Dunlap, New York, c. 1978. First edition. Soft cover. 112 pages. Overall good vintage condition with pristine pages.