01 Work, Contemporary Interpretations of Olympian deities, William Mortensen's Venus and Vulcan, with footnotes #30

William Mortensen

Venus and Vulcan

Silver print with textured overlay

Private collection

A uniquely funny and strange take on a standard from classical antiquity. Vucan is the god of fire and the forge. Here he is old and bent over, nearly crushed by the weight of his enormous box camera. He holds the hand of his cupid progeny. Cupid has a Leica strapped to his shoulder rather than a quiver of arrows. Venus waits patiently for both of them. More on this Photograph

William Mortensen (27 January 1897 – 12 August 1965) was an American art photographer, primarily known for his Hollywood portraits in the 1920s-1940s in the pictorialist style. He was born William Herbert Mortensen on January 27, 1897 in Park City, Utah, the son of Danish immigrants. 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 painting.

After his discharge from the army, Mortensen briefly studied illustration at the Art Students League in New York City. In May 1920 he traveled in Greece, Italy, Egypt and Constantinople to "sketch for educational purposes." He returned to Utah, then traveled to Hollywood.

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. More on William Mortensen

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