Philippe Halsman’s Fabulous Jump Portraits

"When you ask a person to jump, his attention is mostly directed toward the act of jumping and the mask falls so that the real person appears”

 

Philippe Halsman

Marilyn Monroe 1959

 

In the 1950s photographer Philippe Halsman ended his portrait sessions by asking his subjects to jump. His pictures are compiled in the wonderful Philippe Halsman’s Jump Book.

“There is a sublime silliness to Halsman’s images that can make you laugh regardless of how open  you see them. They offer incontrovertible proof of Schiller’s claim that ‘all art is dedicated to joy.’  Evidently the simple act of getting off the ground requires giving in to something like joy. You have to let go” – Roberta Smith, NY Times

 

 

Halsman

Jacques Tati

Philippe Halsman

William Holden, 1954

Philippe Halsman

Grace Kelly

Philippe Halsman

Liberace

Philippe Halsman

Anthony Perkins

Philippe Halsman

Audrey Hepburn

Philippe Halsman

1951.  Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

 

Philippe Halsman

Halsman’s studio. US actress Marilyn Monroe. 1959.

Phillipe Halsman

Duke and Dutchess of Windsor Jumping,1956

 

Philippe Halsman

Dalí Atomicus
1948
Philippe Halsman

 

Philippe Halsman

USA. 1959. American actress Marilyn MONROE jumping with Philippe HALSMAN.

Self-portrait. 1950. Philippe Halsman

 

Images by Magnum photos and Philippe Halsman, and from the show Surprise Me!. at Jeu de Paume, Paris. The beautiful book, published by Damiani, can be purchased here.

Phillipe Halsman

Phillipe Halsman’s Jump book cover

And now for one famous face who refused to jump. The Lady was not for jumping.

Would you like to support Flashbak?

Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.