# Poignant Sisterhood Portaits Nicholas Nixon Captures the Bond of Sisterhood in His Archival Series By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2014-11-27 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nicholas-nixon References: [featureshoot](http://www.featureshoot.com/2014/11/photographer-shoots-four-sisters-every-year-40-years-astonishing-results/) & [fraenkelgallery](http://fraenkelgallery.com/artists/nicholas-nixon) Nicholas Nixon has been photographing his wife, Bebe, and her three sisters once a year for the past forty years. The project, which originally began in 1974, has become a family ritual, and is currently on display at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). 'Nicholas Nixon: Forty Years of The Brown Sisters' will also be [released as a book](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amusebouche). The sisters, who ranged in age from 15 to 25 when the series began, have gone through the trials and tribulations of life together. The [annual portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/storylife) reveal countless experiences, from graduating college to getting married, and everything in between and beyond. As Ellyn Kail writes, "Where most photographs strive to capture a mere moment, Nixon’s archive touches on those things in our ephemeral existence that approach permanence." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.8/10 - Popularity: 4% | Activity: 12% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/stylephotography) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Long-term Documentation:** The project of photographing sisters once a year for forty years showcases the trend of extended, ongoing documentation of personal experiences. - **Family Rituals as Art:** The annual portraits of the sisters represent the trend of turning personal family rituals into artistic expressions with a broader cultural impact. - **Reflecting on Time and Growth:** The forty-year series of portraits highlights the trend of using visual storytelling to explore the themes of time, aging, and personal development. ### Where This Applies - **Photography:** The long-term documentation trend presents disruptive innovation opportunities in photography, encouraging photographers to find unique ways to document personal experiences over extended periods. - **Fine Art:** Transforming personal family rituals into artistic expressions represents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the fine art industry by showcasing the power of intimate and relatable storytelling. - **Publishing:** The release of 'Nicholas Nixon: Forty Years of The Brown Sisters' as a book demonstrates an innovative approach to publishing personal projects that resonate with a wide audience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Photography Project Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/still-life-1.md) - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md) - [Documentary Photography Exhibition](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-last-resort-exhibition.md) - [Imperfect Photography Celebrations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nonnas-cam.md) - [Color Photography Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/profiles-in-color.md) - [Artful Self-Expressive Camera Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/z-fc.md) - [Unretouched Photography Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dove-reimagine-beauty.md) - [Timeless Photo Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/photos-by-artkive.md) - [Celebratory Photo Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sonic-editions.md)