Philippe Halsman. Salvador Dali in the fetal position 1942.
Following Dali’s statements about his memories of his prenatal life, Halsman photographed the painter « like an embryo in an egg, » in the fetal position on white sheets. Halsman then retouched the negative to give the illusion of nudity and superimposed the resulting image with a photograph of an egg.
Philippe Halsman. Jean Cocteau, The final touch, New-York 1949
Philippe Halsman’s assignment was to capture on camera what goes on “inside a poet’s mind,” for a three-page photo essay commissioned by LIFE Magazine, coinciding with the US release of Cocteau’s movie The eagle with two heads. No stranger to the caprices of avant-garde artists – in 1941, Halsman began his famous 37-year-long collaboration and friendship with Salvador Dali – the photographer had assembled an idiosyncratic array of props for The Frivolous Prince (a moniker the writer gained in the Bohemian artistic circles he mixed in, and the title of a volume he published at twenty-two), including a live boa constrictor and a dozen trained doves. The dancer Leo Coleman was also part of the entourage, alongside a “girl with a classically beautiful face” and a “classically perfect body”: Enrica Soma, a 19-year-old model and prima ballerina who had appeared on the cover of LIFE herself in 1947, where she was spotted by the filmmaker John Huston. She became his fourth wife in 1950.
Franz Otto Koch. The dancer Nina Payne in The nightgown dance 1910
Franz Otto Koch. Woman with long hair 1910
Frank Eugene. The cake walk 1900
Emil Otto Hoppé. Eileen Hawthorne 1923
Erwin Blumenfeld. Blurred sitting nude 1944
Sasha (Alexander Stewart). The writer and actress Anita Loos 1931
Sasha (Alexander Stewart). The dancer Tilly Losch with the shadow of Roman Jasinski in « L’errante », choreography by George Balanchine, dress by Molyneux 1933
Man Ray. The actress Rose Wheeler 1930
Man Ray. The French Cancan dancer Lydia and model 1932
Man Ray. The French Cancan dancer Lydia and model 1932
Man Ray. The French Cancan dancer Lydia and model 1932
Man Ray. The French Cancan dancer Lydia and model 1932
Man Ray. Solarized portrait of the actress Rose Wheeler 1930
Man Ray. The actress Rose Wheeler with a tchador 1930
Man Ray. The actress Rose Wheeler with a tchador 1930
Aurel Bauh. Photogram 1931
Aurel Bauh. Vision 1930
Alfred Cheney Johnston. The silent movie star Martha Mansfield 1923
Madame d’Ora. The bowl by the Bodenwieser’s school of dance 1931
Man Ray. Fashion photography, unknown model 1925
Man Ray. Triple portrait of the actress Rose Wheeler 1926
Man Ray. Triple portrait of the actress Rose Wheeler 1926
Man Ray. From the serie Fashion in the Congo 1937
Man Ray. From the serie Fashion in the Congo 1937
Man Ray. From the serie Fashion in the Congo 1937
Man Ray. From the serie Fashion in the Congo 1937
Man Ray. From the serie Fashion in the Congo 1937
Man Ray. The dancer Valeska Gert 1925
Man Ray. The dancer Valeska Gert 1925
Man Ray. The dancer Valeska Gert 1925
Man Ray. The dancer Valeska Gert 1925
Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, known as Grietje Zelle, also known as Mata Hari, was a Dutch dancer and courtesan, born on 7 August 1876 in Leeuwarden and executed on 15 October 1917 in Vincennes. She was shot for espionage during the First World War.
Lucien Walery. Mata Hari performing the Dance of the seven veils 1906.
Lucien Walery. Mata Hari performing the Dance of the seven veils 1906.
Brassaï. Publicity photo shooting for Diana Slip 1933
Alvin Langdon Coburn. Elsie Thomas in an Eastern costume sitting on a hammock 1908. Autochrome
Alvin Langdon Coburn. Woman wearing a kimono holding a sunflower 1908. Autochrome
Alvin Langdon Coburn. The dancer Michio Ito 1913.
Michio Itō (April 13, 1893 – November 6, 1961) was a Japanese dancer and choreographer; he worked in association with William Butler Yeats, Ezra Pound, Angna Enters, Isamu Noguchi, Louis Horst, Ted Shawn, Martha Graham, Lillian Powell, Vladimir Rosing, Pauline Koner, Lester Horton, and other American artists. He was interned as a Japanese American and eventually deported from the United States after the outbreak of World War II.
Lehnert and Landrock. Oriantalist nude 1900-1910
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Reclining woman 1895
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Reclining woman 1895
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Nude study in outdoor 1895
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Nude study in outdoor 1895
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Nude study in outdoor 1895
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Nude study 1895
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Nude study in outdoor 1895
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Nude study in outdoor 1895
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Nude study in outdoor 1895
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Young man holding a Greek vase with a young girl 1901
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Young man holding a Greek vase with a young girl 1901
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Young man holding a Greek vase with a young girl 1901
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Young man holding a Greek vase with a young girl 1901
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Portrait of a young woman 1890
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Portrait of a young woman 1890
Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden. Portrait of a young woman 1890
Pierre Delbo. Marie Vassilieff’s doll 1927
Pierre Delbo. Marie Vassilieff’s dolls 1927
The French-Russian artist Marie Vassilieff, active in Paris between the wars, created puppets representing many famous artists of the School of Paris during the interwar period, many of which were presented at several exhibitions, often organized by her patron, the French fashion designer Paul Poiret (1879-1944). She created a new genre of portrait sculpture, which served as effigies, souvenirs, and decorative objects for the Parisian avant-garde of the interwar period. Her portraits dolls are part of the history of avant-garde marionettes and puppets, used notably in the shows of Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Hannah Höch, but also responded to an interest.
Gala, born Elena Ivanovna Diakonova on September 7, 1894, in Kazan (Russian Empire) and died on June 10, 1982, in Portlligat (Spain), was a Russian figure known for having been successively the wife of Paul Éluard, the lover of Max Ernst, and finally the wife and muse of Salvador Dalí.
Unknown photographer. Gala 1920s
Unknown photographer. Gala 1920s
Unknown photographer. Gala 1920s
Unknown photographer. Gala 1920s
Man Ray. Nush Éluard 1935
Man Ray. Nush Éluard 1935
Alexander Binder. The actress Fern Andra smoking 1910
Marcel Bovis. Still life with shell 1935
Alexander Binder. Student Dora Zuntz as Nefertiti at the Berlin Arts and Crafts Ball Bunte Laterne 1927
Jeanne Mandello. Photogram 1950
Dr Max Thorek. Terpsichore (muse of dance) 1920s
Dr Max Thorek. Striking study of harpist 1936
Dr Max Thorek. Occult dance 1942
Alexander Binder. The actress Lili Damita with fan 1928
Alexander Binder. The actress Truus van Aalten and swam 1920s
Unknown photographer. Young girl from the Parisian bourgeoisie near a rosebush, Jardin de Bagatelle, Paris 1920. Autochrome
André Kertész. The writer and actress Colette 1930
Atelier Badekow. The dancers Katta Sterna and her sister Maria Solveg, Berlin 1920
Violet Keene Perinchief. Pomegranates 1910
Violet Keene Perinchief . Diana Boone 1940
Martin Badekow. The dancer Katta Sterna, Berlin 1925
Erwin Blumenfeld. Lady with a camellia, Vogue 1943
Unknown photographer. Native American Indian 1910, Arizona. Autochrome
Unknown photographer. Seated woman dressed in a oriental style 1910. Autochrome
Etheldreda Janet Laing. Janet Laing holding a parasol 1908. Autochrome
Jules Gervais-Courtellemont. Young woman from the Bethmale valley in festive costume, Ariège, France. Autochrome 1910
Jules Gervais-Courtellemont. Seated Turkish women 1908. Autochrome
Jules Gervais-Courtellemont. Veiled Turkish women 1908. Autochrome
Jules Gervais-Courtellemont. Woman of Bethlehem in ancient costume 1908. Autochrome
Jules Gervais-Courtellemont. Woman wearing an oriental costume 1908. Autochrome
Jules Gervais-Courtellemont. Woman wearing an oriental costume 1908. Autochrome
Franz Lowy. Model dressed by Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna 1920
Franz Lowy. The dancer Ellen Tels in Dreamdance 1922
Emil Otto Hoppé. The dancer Vera Fokina as Chloe 1910
Emil Otto Hoppé. The dancer Vera Fokina as Chloe 1910
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Draped woman at the bottom of a staircase 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Draped woman at the bottom of a staircase 1912
Man Ray. Nusch Eluard’s hands, advertising photography 1935
Man Ray. Nusch Eluard’s hands, advertising photography 1935
Berenice Abbott. Coco Chanel 1920s
Man Ray. The snake charmer dancer Miss Dorita 1930
Man Ray. The snake charmer dancer Miss Dorita 1930
Man Ray. The snake charmer dancer Miss Dorita 1930
Lee Miller. Dora Maar, Mougins 1937
Jacques-Henri Lartigue. Renée Perle 1931
Paul Citroën. Alannah 1928
Paul Citroën. The dancer Estella Reed 1931
Robert Demachy. Portrait of a young woman 1900-1910
Robert Demachy. Portrait of a young woman 1900-1910
George Hoyningen-Huene. Eloui Bey in Lucien Lelong’s mirror costume, Vogue 1929
Man Ray. Fashion photography 1935
Man Ray. Fashion photography 1935
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Seated woman on a branch 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman adjusting her stockings 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman adjusting her stockings 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman adjusting her stockings 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman dressed in a oriental style 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman dressed in a oriental style 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman dressed in a oriental style 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman dressed in a oriental style 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman dressed in a oriental style 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman dressed in a oriental style 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman dressed in a oriental style 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman dressed in a oriental style 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman dressed in a oriental style 1912
Martin Munkacsi. Bathers 1930s
Martin Munkacsi. Bathing beauties, Berlin 1929
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Reclining woman in outdoor 1912
Alexander Grinberg. The art of movement 1924
Alexander Grinberg. The art of movement 1924
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman arranging a bouquet of flowers 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman arranging a bouquet of flowers 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Young woman arranging a bouquet of flowers 1912
Alexander Grinberg. Seated woman holding a cup 1928
Alexander Grinberg. Seated woman holding a cup 1928
Alexander Grinberg. Untitled 1920s
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Seaside gymnastics scene 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Seaside gymnastics scene 1912
Charles Augustin Lhermitte. Seaside gymnastics scene 1912
Alexander Grinberg. The dancer Inna Chernetskaya and an unknown dancer 1925
Alexander Grinberg. The dancer Inna Chernetskaya and an unknown dancer 1910-1926
Alexander Grinberg. The dancer Inna Chernetskaya and an unknown dancer 1910-1926
Alexander Grinberg. The dancer Inna Chernetskaya and an unknown dancer 1925
Alexander Grinberg. Study of movement, static figure 1910-1926
