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. 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) HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved