Hans Namuth (1915-1990) was a German-born American photographer and filmmaker best known for his portraits of artists, particularly the Abstract Expressionist painters of the New York School. Namuth's work helped to popularize these artists and their work in the 1950s and 1960s.
Namuth was born in Essen, Germany and fled to the United States in 1935 to escape Nazi persecution. He settled in New York City and began working as a freelance photographer. In the 1940s, Namuth began photographing artists in their studios, including Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko. He became known for his candid and intimate portraits of these artists at work, which helped to demystify the creative process and bring attention to the Abstract Expressionist movement.
Namuth also worked as a filmmaker, and he is best known for his documentary films about artists, including Jackson Pollock (1951) and Willem de Kooning: The Painter (1963). These films were groundbreaking in their use of handheld cameras and innovative editing techniques, and they helped to redefine the documentary genre.
Namuth's work had a major impact on the art world, and his portraits of artists are now considered iconic images of the Abstract Expressionist movement. His photographs have been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world, and his films continue to be studied for their contributions to the art of documentary filmmaking.
Verso is blank.
Foxing evident.
Measures 12.9 x 10.25.
Printed circa 1970s.