Rare book, classic photos

[JohnTF]

http://books.google.com/books?id=k-...in&source=bl&ots=78wBYilS2b&sig=FREYjDIngRQIC


Have been researching my father's brother, who was a photographer in the 30's in Berlin and Paris (director of Harcourt Studio, though their records are not organized), then Mexico City.

Sadly he died before I could meet him, but he left a legacy of work to a museum in Mexico. My aunt gave me a few photographs.

There is another rarer book of Ballet photographs, hand bound, which occasionally is found in NYC.

Book is mostly photographs, with a few chapters in Spanish and English.

He was born in the late 19th century in Russia, emigrated to the US, but returned during the revolution, to be imprisoned and sentenced to be shot, several times, escaped to Germany to study and work with Sasha Stone, where the Germans did not appreciate his anarchist lean, escaped from France during the war, to Portugal, and the boat was going to Mexico, where he met Diego Rivera, Picasso, and similar others.

Perhaps of interest to some, he had his style, photographed many people of interest, many Mexican actors and of course Irina Baranova and the ballet.

Hope this is of some interest. Site should show some good samples of his work.

Regards, John

 

[Pablito]

VERY interesting, thanks!!!

 

[shadowfox]

Beautiful photos, and interesting background.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[JohnTF]

Many of his prints in the US have disappeared. My cousin lived in Texas and just told me he spent some weeks with Senya and Mollie, when Senya wanted him to take charge of his negatives, but he deferred, being young and not much in to photography.

Jan in Berlin found the apartment he lived in, still standing, and the author found me through the Harcourt Studio in Paris as I had made inquiries regarding his tenure there.

I do have one print of Irina Baranova in the dress shown on the web page, and when I can get it scanned, I will try to post it. I believe he used all large format.

If I get back to Mexico City, I will see if a favorite restaurant of his is open and still has many of his photographs on the wall.

He had little money, I am told he gave it away to his anarchist friends, he was friends with Picasso and Diego Rivera. There are a lot of pieces missing from the story for me.

Hope you enjoyed a bit of family history. The current book is hard to find, I may give a copy to the University Library if they are interested.

Perhaps the museum in Mexico City may some day open up the archives.

He had a very colorful life, as did his life long companion Mollie Steimer, who he met in Russia when he returned to "help" during the revolution, and she had been one of the 500 anarchists deported by the US.


Regards, John

 

[peter_n]

Wonderful pictures, thank you so much for posting the link!

 

[JohnTF]

Thanks, seems odd in the information age you have to work so hard to see his work, he very carefully cataloged and filed everything he sent to the museum.

I was invited to see the collection, but could only do so through their computers.


Regards, John

 

[JohnTF]

My cousin just heard from Emma Garcia Krinsky, and they are trying to hang an exhibition. The work seems to be well received in Mexico, where most of his prints reside.

Regards, John

 

[peter_n]

Good news. His work deserves an exhibit.

 

[JohnTF]

Good news. His work deserves an exhibit.

His negatives from France were left behind and thought lost in the war, but his assistant saved them and sent them to him in Mexico.

An earlier book SEMO Ballet, was probably a series of 1000 hand leather bound copies, from that earlier work, with a hand made print on the cover. I have only seen a few copies, there was one I found on line ina bookstore in NY, the other was the one he sent to my mother. His brother, my father, died well before his retirement in Mexico.

Molly and he spent years organizing and filing his remaining work in his later years.

I get the feeling there was such a large body of work, that it took the museum that received it a significant amount of time to deal with the collection, but I have met with Ms. Krinsky only once, though she picked up several sources though our chance connection via email and the Harcourt Studio in Paris.

I never thought I would get much information regarding him first hand from people who talked to him, but my cousin, now in Iowa, spent weeks visiting him in the 60's I think, his mother, Senya's Niece spent a lot more time with him in Mexico. I am hoping that Rick will write some of this.

There is much more to be put down on paper, some of which is hard to believe. Am very surprised he was not interviewed to a greater extent. He lived in interesting times.

Am happy to see some interest here, hopefully more to come.

Regards, John