Lehigh University
Art Architecture and Design
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Montage, Taohan

Fantastic Photomontage

Off for the Sabbot, circa 1927: William Mortensen

The photographer is William Mortensen who was called the “anti-christ” and was rejected by the public for a long time for the images he created. I choose this image because it looks like somewhat fantasy pictures at first glance among all other surrealism grotesque. I also like his composition of putting the buildings only at the lower 1/3 of the image and intentionally left the sky empty to add the sabbot. This has successfully put the emphasis of the image to the subject in the sky. I might make up my montage in a similar manner if possible.

Fantastic photomontage and its possible influences, 1857 – 2007 : a timeline. Accessed April 19, 2021. http://www.d-log.info/timeline/index.html.

2 thoughts on “Fantastic Photomontage

  1. Can you explain what you mean by “among all other surrealism grotesque?” I think I know what you are getting at but it could be clarified. You make a good point about the composition being weighted on the bottom.

  2. By saying” surrealism grotesque,” I mean that the other photos I saw at that periods all gave my a horror and darkness. But Mortensen’s works indeed triggered a different feeling like magic and tales.

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