Philippe Halsman (American, 1906-1979). Albert Einstein, 1947. Gelatin silver print . 13-1/2 x 10-5/8 inches (34.3 x 27....

Description

Philippe Halsman (American, 1906-1979)
Albert Einstein, 1947
Gelatin silver print
13-1/2 x 10-5/8 inches (34.3 x 27.0 cm) (image/sheet)
Signed in white ink in the image. Titled and inscribed in pencil, mount verso.

The Collection of Hal Gould, Camera Obscura Gallery, Denver.

PROVENANCE:
Christie's, New York, Photographs, February 19, 2002, lot 592;
Hal Gould, acquired from the above.

LITERATURE:
P. Halsman, Sight and Insight, Doubleday, New York, 1972, p. 8;
Y. Halsman, Halsman, 1983, Sanders, New York, pl. 1;
M. Panzer, S. Bello and J. Halsman Bello, Philippe Halsman: A Retrospective - Photographs from the Halsman Family Collection, Bullfinch/ Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1988, pp. 84-85.

"I admired Albert Einstein more than anyone I ever photographed, not as the genius who single-handedly has changed the foundation of modern physics, but even more as a rare and idealistic human being...
The question of how to capture the essence of such a man in a portrait filled me with apprehension. Finally, in 1947, I had the courage to bring on one of my visits my Halsman camera and a few floodlights. After tea, I asked for permission to set up my lights in Einstein's study. The professor sat down and started to peacefully work on a few mathematical calculations. I took a few pictures... Suddenly looking into my camera, he started talking. He spoke about his despair that his formula E = mc2 and his letter to President Roosevelt had made the atomic bomb possible, that his scientific search had resulted in the death of so many human beings... His eyes had a look of immense sadness. There was a question and a reproach in them. The spell of this moment almost paralyzed me. Then, with an effort, I released the shutter of my camera." (Philippe Halsman, Sight and Insight)


More information about Philippe Halsman. See also: Halsman, Philippe, Halsmann, Philipp.



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