Philippe HalsmanPhilippe Halsman

By: Cecilia MilanoBy: Cecilia Milano

Vital StatisticsVital Statistics

May 2, 1906 (Riga, Latvia) - June 25, 1979 (NYC)

Family: wife and two children Male Latvian Jewish

May 2, 1906 (Riga, Latvia) - June 25, 1979 (NYC)

Family: wife and two children Male Latvian Jewish

Personal BackgroundPersonal Background

Was born into a Jewish family; tough time

Was convicted with patricide at age 22

Had to flee Nazi’s in 1940 Came to New York City in 1940 Big break when met Connie Ford

Was born into a Jewish family; tough time

Was convicted with patricide at age 22

Had to flee Nazi’s in 1940 Came to New York City in 1940 Big break when met Connie Ford

Key Historical EventsKey Historical Events

Lived durig WWII (while being Jewish)

Had to flee Marseille when France was invaded

Eventually got into US (career really started there)

Lived durig WWII (while being Jewish)

Had to flee Marseille when France was invaded

Eventually got into US (career really started there)

Influence of the Art WorldInfluence of the Art World

Worked within the traditions of surrealism

Wilfredo Lam, Philippe Halsman, Marc Chagall, and Salvador Dali all suggested there was another meaning under every day life

Halsman used hidden meaning to provide pleasure where others provided shock

Worked within the traditions of surrealism

Wilfredo Lam, Philippe Halsman, Marc Chagall, and Salvador Dali all suggested there was another meaning under every day life

Halsman used hidden meaning to provide pleasure where others provided shock

Influence of the Art World cont.

Influence of the Art World cont.

In 1941 Halsman met Salvador Dali and they began to collaborate

Influenced Alfred Hitchcock movies; convicted for patricide (The Wrong Man and North)

His Jumpology inspired many photographers to take photos showing the true person

Was one of the first to explore suspension Modern day equivalent is Annie Lebowitz

In 1941 Halsman met Salvador Dali and they began to collaborate

Influenced Alfred Hitchcock movies; convicted for patricide (The Wrong Man and North)

His Jumpology inspired many photographers to take photos showing the true person

Was one of the first to explore suspension Modern day equivalent is Annie Lebowitz

Stylistic TraitsStylistic Traits

Suspension (jumping especially) Soft Focus Full Range of Value (black, white, and

gray) Enhanced (exaggerated) or missing

features Lines (vertical, horizontal, and diagonal) Texture Props to Show Personality

Suspension (jumping especially) Soft Focus Full Range of Value (black, white, and

gray) Enhanced (exaggerated) or missing

features Lines (vertical, horizontal, and diagonal) Texture Props to Show Personality

Audrey Hepburn, 1955Audrey Hepburn, 1955 Range of Value(ex. Shirt vs. Sky) Lines (body, arms, and

branches) Soft Focus(all clear but not

sharp)

Range of Value(ex. Shirt vs. Sky) Lines (body, arms, and

branches) Soft Focus(all clear but not

sharp)

Brigitte Bardot, 1955Brigitte Bardot, 1955 Range of Value(ex. Hair vs. Sun-Hit

Rock) Suspension(jumping) Personality Shown(model shown) Subject in Center Focus(body not sharp)

Range of Value(ex. Hair vs. Sun-Hit

Rock) Suspension(jumping) Personality Shown(model shown) Subject in Center Focus(body not sharp)

Connie Ford, 1941Connie Ford, 1941 Range of Value(ex. Shadows vs. Stripes) Lines(neck and stripes) Texture(hair) Pattern(stars, hair, stripes) Soft Focus(defined but not sharp)

Range of Value(ex. Shadows vs. Stripes) Lines(neck and stripes) Texture(hair) Pattern(stars, hair, stripes) Soft Focus(defined but not sharp)

Dali Atomicus, 1948Dali Atomicus, 1948

Range of value(Chair vs. Light) Lines(chair legs,

shadows) Suspension(freedom of

objects)

Range of value(Chair vs. Light) Lines(chair legs,

shadows) Suspension(freedom of

objects)

My Wish, 2010My Wish, 2010

Range of ValueLinesTextureSoft Focus

Freedom, 2010Freedom, 2010

Range of ValueLinesSuspensionDemonstration of Personality

Ecstasy, 2010Ecstasy, 2010

Range of ValueLinesSuspensionSoft FocusDemonstration of Personality

Reflection AnalysisReflection Analysis

Challenging: to get the person to really free themselves, when they went to jump the first few were always held back

Strengths: the composition Weaknesses: the contrast Lessons: when a person frees

themselves the whole dynamic changes

Challenging: to get the person to really free themselves, when they went to jump the first few were always held back

Strengths: the composition Weaknesses: the contrast Lessons: when a person frees

themselves the whole dynamic changes

ConclusionConclusion

Tried to show the the truth in his pictures People in vulnerable situations but showed

beauty Should note: lesson learned from him is that

true beauty comes from the personality and its when one opens up that that beauty is shown

Many people today focus on superficial beauty but he demonstrates that in the end it’s the inner beauty that comes through

Tried to show the the truth in his pictures People in vulnerable situations but showed

beauty Should note: lesson learned from him is that

true beauty comes from the personality and its when one opens up that that beauty is shown

Many people today focus on superficial beauty but he demonstrates that in the end it’s the inner beauty that comes through

Thanks, Questions?

Thanks, Questions?