Flight of Fancy... Off for the Sabbot (1927)
by William Mortensen (United States, 1897-1965)
In a roll call of the pioneers of modern photography, one name is never invoked. From the late 1920s to the 1950s, William Mortensen was one of the most famous and celebrated photographers in America. However, his subject matter – which veered towards the savage, indecorous, gothic and grotesque – as well as his use of montage and illustration, made him a pariah among the puritanical new guard in photography, led by Ansel Adams, who tried to write him out of history, and even called him "The Antichrist".
Mortensen’s methods often made it hard to distinguish whether the results were photographs or not. He used traditional printmaking techniques, such as bromoiling, and developed many of his own. He would create composite images, scratch, scrape and draw on his prints, then apply a texture that made them look like etchings, thereby disguising his manipulations. Consequently, every print was unique. Ultimately, Mortensen’s aim was to create something that, for all intents and purposes, appeared to be a photograph, yet portrayed scenes so fantastic they caused wonder and astonishment in the viewer.
Rectangle Canvas Wrap
Gallery quality canvas print displays vibrant artwork that is built to last. Printed inks that are fade resistant. Inner frame is 1.25" deep and made with radiata pine sourced from renewable forests.
All canvas prints are wrapped and shipped in fitted packaging.
- Materials: cotton and polyester composite (canvas), pine wood (frame)
- Inner frame made with radiata pine sourced from renewable forests
- Leveling Bumpers Included - For wall protection
- Ready To Hang - Mounting hardware comes attached