When the world of the grotesque is known and appreciated
June 10, 2016 3:30 PM Subscribe
William Mortensen was The Photographer Who Ansel Adams Called the Anti-Christ
He was a trained artist who had initially wanted to be a painter, but who ultimately fell under photography’s spell.
He arrived in Hollywood in 1921 accompanied by 14-year-old Fay Wray, and there started by painting and designing backdrops before moving on to Photography.
His subject matter – which veered towards the savage, indecorous, gothic and grotesque made him a pariah among the puritanical new guard in photography.
A biography in two parts.
He was a trained artist who had initially wanted to be a painter, but who ultimately fell under photography’s spell.
He arrived in Hollywood in 1921 accompanied by 14-year-old Fay Wray, and there started by painting and designing backdrops before moving on to Photography.
His subject matter – which veered towards the savage, indecorous, gothic and grotesque made him a pariah among the puritanical new guard in photography.
A biography in two parts.
"the command to look' should be required reading for any visual artist, especially photographers
posted by Perfectibilist at 4:34 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Perfectibilist at 4:34 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
'monsters and madonnas' documentary narrated by Vincent Price (who had an art history degree from Yale and was a life long art collector and patron)
A slideshow of Mortensen's work NSFW because it is Mortensen after all, both posted by Stephen Romano who runs a gallery that shows many wonderfully strange artists.
posted by Perfectibilist at 4:53 PM on June 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
A slideshow of Mortensen's work NSFW because it is Mortensen after all, both posted by Stephen Romano who runs a gallery that shows many wonderfully strange artists.
posted by Perfectibilist at 4:53 PM on June 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
Wow, these are great.
posted by latkes at 5:01 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by latkes at 5:01 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
That is so freaking cool. Thanks for sharing this.
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:41 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:41 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
On some level, being called Antichrist by Ansel Adams is a hell of a compliment.
posted by wotsac at 7:14 PM on June 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by wotsac at 7:14 PM on June 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
Ansel was a genius, but, in guitar-playing terms, he would be what we call a "blues Nazi".
posted by Chitownfats at 9:21 PM on June 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Chitownfats at 9:21 PM on June 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
"He arrived in Hollywood in 1921 accompanied by 14-year-old Fay Wray."
"He also took a series of risqué photos of the young actress for publicity purposes ..."
posted by _Mona_ at 4:53 AM on June 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
"He also took a series of risqué photos of the young actress for publicity purposes ..."
posted by _Mona_ at 4:53 AM on June 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thanks Pertfectibilist I see ´´the command to look´´ has been republished and is even in kindle. As hardback import is expensive here I have it on my phone.
As a couple of the links posted above are actually in the main FPP here is a different one with more content.
posted by adamvasco at 8:17 AM on June 11, 2016
As a couple of the links posted above are actually in the main FPP here is a different one with more content.
posted by adamvasco at 8:17 AM on June 11, 2016
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posted by bukvich at 3:50 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]