William H. Mortensen (1897–1965)

Preparation for the Sabbath

William H. Mortensen (1897–1965) was an American art photographer, primarily known for his Hollywood portraits in the 1920s-1940s in the pictorialist style. Although he was well known at the time, he has been dismissed as an unimportant figure more recently. Larry Lytle says "Due to his approach—both technically and philosophically in opposition to straight or purist adherents — he is amongst the most problematic figures in photography in the twentieth-century... Over the last few years historians and critics have described his images as "...anecdotal, highly sentimental, mildly erotic hand-colored prints...", "...bowdlerized versions of garage calendar pin-ups and sadomasochist entertainments...", "...contrived set-ups and sappy facial expressions...", and finally he was described by Ansel Adams as alternately the "Devil", and "the anti-Christ."

Possessed

Death of Hypatia

Amour

Vampire

Pendulum