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American grotesque : the life and art of William Mortensen
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American grotesque : the life and art of William Mortensen

by Larry Lytle, Michael Moynihan

This retrospective examines the occult and erotic imagery of a mid-20th-century Hollywood photographer known for innovative special effects. The collection features over 100 duotone and colour photographs alongside essays analysing the artist's work and legacy.

Accession 12241 ISBN 9781936239979 Publisher Feral House
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TAGS
Curated Derived
Art Artists Authors Biography Culture Folklore Painting Philosophy Photography Professions
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State
on_shelf
True
position_updated_at
2026-06-09 15:02
orientation
vertical
Details

Physical

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Hard Back
dimensions
none captured
spine_text
none captured

Metadata

Book form
LOCATION HISTORY
G:N1:26 5 Current vertical
2 weeks ago
G:N1:22 4 vertical
2 weeks, 1 day ago
Book Location
Updated 2 days, 5 hours ago
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Identity

name→ title
American grotesque : the life and art of William Mortensen
vernon_id
19364
accession_no→ accession_number
12241
vernon_slug
american-grotesque-the-life-and-art-of-william-mortensen-edited-by-larry-lytle-and-michael-moynihan-introduction-by-michael-moynihan-essays-by-larry-lytle-william-mortensen-and-a-d-coleman

Drives Pulse state

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On Shelf
location_name
Zone N1/Level 1/Phrontisterion/MONA
location_reason
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isbn_issn→ isbn (when valid)
9781936239979

Descriptive

production_date
2014
object_type
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object_status
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brief_description
American Grotesque is a lavish retrospective of grotesque, occult, and erotic images by the forgotten Hollywood photographer William Mortensen (1897-1965), an innovative pictorialist visionary whom Ansel Adams called the Antichrist and to whom Anton LaVey dedicated The Satanic Bible. Mortensen s countless technical innovations and inspired use of special effects prefigures the development of digital manipulation and Photoshop. Includes a gallery of more than one hundred striking photographs in duotone and color, many of them previously unseen, and accompanying essays by Mortensen and others on his life, work, techniques, and influence.

Subjects & people

authors→ author (initial fill only)
Larry Lytle, Michael Moynihan
tags→ tags
Art, Arts, Persons, Philosophy, Civilisation, Figurative art, Realism in art, Artists, Photography, Tableaux (Art), Manners and customs, Black-and-white photography, Aesthetics, Folklore, Monsters, Grotesque in art, Grotesque, Photographers
subject_people
William Mortensen
subject_objects
—

Cover image

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Topics and Themes