Charles Baudelaire is noted as the founder of the symbol of the flâneur, or the wanderer of the city, using the symbol in his literature. In modern times, we might call a flâneur a loner, or an artist. These people silently wander the city, observe, and create art out what they see. Many photographers could be considered flâneurs, and one of the most striking photographers I have discovered has been Vivian Maier. I believe her work and life in general perfectly personify the idea of the flâneur, because she wandered Chicago capturing images of life in the crowd, instead of just perceiving it with her eyes.

Vivian Maier’s art can be described as having a flâneur-like because it captures the actual nature of life in the crowd. Flâneurs allows themselves to become swallowed up by the crowd, observing the world from a detached perception. Maier’s urban adventures fit this definition of a flâneur, as she would spend most of her free time wandering Chicago and taking photographs of interesting people and architecture she saw. She did this so often that she had hoards of undeveloped film and photographs tucked away in her apartment. The images, which were found after her death in an auction, depicted an incredibly vast array of subjects: from wealthy socialites, to impoverished children, to aerial views of the city and the crowds that pulsated the veins of its streets. All of her photographs possessed an uncanny sense of reality. Most of the pictures seemed rather candid, which Maier was noted to have enjoyed the style of. Her art made one feel as if they were walking the streets of Chicago with her. Also, the fact that she focused on the decrepit aspects of urban life rather than just the erotic gave her work validity. Maier saw life in the city for what it really was. Sometimes it was glamorous, and other times it was putrid. But Vivian captured it all.

Vivian Maier is not only a flâneur through her photography, but through the way she lived her life. Flâneurs are often aloof during their adventures so that they can observe the crowd without imposing themselves into their observations. From what has been gathered about Maier after her death, it is obvious that she maintained this aloofness throughout her whole life. Maier was not described as having many friends, and was never married, or even in a serious romantic relationship. She was an introvert in the most extreme sense of the word, only choosing to connect with the families she worked for.

Despite her quiet nature, she was not afraid of being among people in the crowds of the city. Almost all of her free time was dedicated to exploring Chicago while taking photographs, an activity she would even indulge in while working as a nanny. In this way, Maier dedicated her life to being a flâneur. She did not leave this world with numerous emotional connections, but rather with a legacy influenced by the lives of others. Though it is argued in some cases that Maier would ask people on the street to pose for her photographs, it is evident in many of the photos themselves that they were taken candidly. For the most part, she chose to be the silent observer, allowing the lives of others to be captured eternally in her camera and her mind, constantly influencing her own thoughts and future art. Vivian is truly and extraordinary woman who has produced beautiful art, which I implore you to discover for yourself.