Spanning a period of almost half a century, the considerable talents of chemical engineer Mária Telkes were dedicated to the exploration and utilization of solar energy, her most notable achievement being the creation of the pioneering solar-heated dwelling. Nonetheless, throughout her tenure at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she encountered professional impediments imposed by her male superior and peers, yet she continued steadfastly in the face of such obstacles. The person in the photograph is captured in a moment of contemplation, donned in a luxurious fur coat which provides a stark contrast to the straight lines of the modern architecture in the background. Her pose is one of resilience and poise, perhaps reflective of the determination she has exhibited throughout her career.
