Original silver-gelatin photograph of Mary Doran by well-known American photographer, William Mortensen (1897 - 1965). On lightly textured cream-colored photographic paper. Matted and framed. Signed in pencil lower right under the image “Wm. Mortensen”. This image depicts Mary Doran Mary Doran who was an American film actress. She appeared in more than 80 films between 1927 and 1944. Taken and printed by Mortensen in 1928, he used a texture screen when printing to give the image a somewhat stylized pictorialist look. Very few of this image are known to exist. One is in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

SIZE: Image - 7.5” x 9.5” (19cm x 24 cm) / Frame - 17.5” x 21.5” (44.5 cm x 54.5 cm)

NOTES / REFERENCES: William Herbert Mortensen was born in 1897 in Park City, Utah. During World War I, Mortensen served with the United States Infantry from August 6, 1918 to May 16, 1919. At his enlistment, he recorded his occupation as ‘painter’. After his discharge from the army, Mortensen briefly studied illustration at the Art Students League in New York City. In May 1920 he traveled to Europe to "sketch for educational purposes." He returned to Utah, then traveled to Hollywood as an escort for his friend's sister, Fay Wray. Mortensen began his photographic career taking portraits of Hollywood actors and film stills. In 1931 he moved to the artist community of Laguna Beach, California, where he opened a studio and the William Mortensen School of Photography. He preferred the pictorialism style of manipulating photographs to produce romanticist painting-like effects. The style brought him criticism from straight photographers of the modern realist movement and, in particular, he carried on a prolonged written debate with Ansel Adams. He was largely forgotten by the time of his death in 1965, but recent years have brought praise for Mortensen's development of manipulation techniques and a renewed interest in his work. Mortensen was awarded the Hood medal from the Royal Photographic Society in 1949 and e wrote nine books about technique in photography, in conjunction with George Dunham.

NO RESERVE

Excellent condition with light overall toning and a small amount of silver at the edges. Light staing to reverse, not showing through to the front. Not laid down.