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Bettie Page photographer Joseph Hanson was born sometime during Jan. of
1908. During the 1930s through the early 1940s, Joseph was a bodybuilder
who worked as an artist's model. He worked mainly for sculptors who were
employed at The Art Students League located at West 57th Street in New
York City. Joseph posed for some of the sculptures that were used at the
1939 World's Fair. He also claimed to have been one of the models used
for some of the friezes at the Rockefeller Center. True to form, Joseph
remained involved in art by selling cheap prints and second hand art
books in the lobby of The Art Students League for approximately 50
years. One of his clients was
Marguerite Guggenheim
(better known as Peggy Guggenheim), daughter of Benjamin Guggenheim who
perished in the sinking of the Titanic of 1912. Marguerite was
fascinated with bohemian artistic culture and eventually became a well
known art collector.
Using his knowledge of the body, Joseph Hanson was able to capture a
very stunning series of Bettie Page. He photographed Bettie Page in
1953 at a friend's apartment using 2.5 x 2.5" film. Joseph's photographs
of Bettie Page are amongst the most beautiful and striking ever taken.
They had an almost painterly quality. Joseph's photographs feature a
young and vibrant Bettie Page in a very relaxed mood in an intimate
setting away from the usual camera club fare. Joseph's photographs are
indicative of what was called "Artists Photography" which was the rage
during the early 1950s so as not to be grouped together with what was
considered smut. His work eventually showed up scattered throughout
PRIVATE PEEKS Vol. 1-4 by Belier Press. Scan 007 was featured in
a photographic trade publication because of its dramatic quality of
light and is also touring around the world in a traveling Bettie Page
exhibition. His work has also been shown at photographic shows on the
East and West coast. Signed Joseph Hanson photographs of Bettie Page are
available for purchase at
papericons.com.
Joseph died on Jul. 26 2006.
Anyone interested in a vintage medium format negative of Bettie Page by Joseph Hanson can me for details.
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