'The Only Woman dramatizes the high price of tokenism.' – Gloria Steinem
'It only takes one woman to make magic!' – Diane von Furstenberg
'A fascinating new book ... rich pickings.' – Samira Ahmed, Front Row, BBC Radio 4
'A simple but powerful premise.' – Amanpour & Co.
‘With few words, [this] book speaks volumes.’ – NPR
'Immy Humes portrays a compelling gallery of women who paved the way in journalism, politics and beyond.' –Telegraph
‘Images and backstories of figures … as well as a bevy of unknowns, who defiantly left their mark on a man’s world.’ – Oprah Daily
'A compelling reflection on history and culture.' – Cool Hunting
'[One of] the year';s most giftable coffee table books.' – New York Magazine, The Strategist
'Ingenious.' – Elephant
'Serves as a powerful recount of women's roles in society and the ongoing fight for a seat at the table.' – Galerie
'Deeply satisfying.' – Hyperallergic
'A giftable glimpse of history.' – Bookpage
'Women that pushed their way into the shots, climbed the ladder, and used their voices – the most powerful weapon we have – to make change.' – Sandra Maas, Trailblazing Women Series at the Women's Museum of California
'100 group photos from throughout the history of photography, each of which features only one woman, while examining social equality.' – Publishers Weekly
'Get ready for a fascinating glimpse into history's unsung glass ceiling breakers.' – Stylist
'Will make for some really good conversations, and you'll learn a lot too.' – The Stripe
'Fascinating history.' – Jessica Bennett, Wait Really?
'A unique focus on women and men in public life from 1860 to the present day.' – Avocado Diaries
01/01/2023
Poring over archives of photographs spanning the 1860s through 2020, documentary filmmaker Humes has assembled a collection with a common feature: group portraits of men, but always also including one lone woman. "Why her and only her? What does her onliness mean?" Humes asks in this project she calls a story of power. Across class portraits, association members, company executives, clubs, artist movements, government leaders, and political movements, the only woman embodies distinct categories: first of her kind (of a medical school class, for example); there solely for gendered work (cook, nurse); by birth or marriage (royalty, a family business); or as token representative. What strikes Humes is, as she phrases it, the ludicrous sameness across time, place, culture, and occupations: many men, always one woman. The medium of photography seems especially suited to convey this truth, both through repetition and through a unique quality photographs have, which seems to point to and say, "There! Do you see?" VERDICT This smart and exceptional project observes photography observing power relations, and is highly recommended.