Born in 1906 to Jewish parents, Philippe Halsman spent much of his early life exploring the diverse landscapes of Austria. However, at the age of 22, his life took a dramatic turn when he was accused of his father's murder during a hiking trip. Despite proclaiming his innocence, Halsman faced a trial and was ultimately convicted, receiving a four-year prison sentence. This dark chapter in his life would profoundly shape his future endeavors as an artist.

Eventually pardoned in 1930 with the influential support of prominent figures in the European Jewish community, including Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein, he left for Paris, where he embarked on a new journey as a photographer. Establishing a studio in Montparnasse, he quickly earned acclaim as one of France's foremost portrait photographers.

As World War II escalated and Germany invaded France, Halsman sought refuge first in Marseille before securing a U.S. visa, once again with the assistance of his friend Albert Einstein. Upon arriving in the United States, he began his work for Life magazine.

During his tenure, his work was featured on more than 101 Life covers — more than any other photographer. He made enduring friendships with famous artists and celebrities alike. One of his most notable friends, Salvador Dali, ended up becoming one of his most photographed subjects and biggest collaborators. Together they created one of Halsman's most iconic works, Dali Atomicus, a gravity-defying scene that took 28 attempts before they achieved a satisfactory result. The name of the photo is a reference to Dali’s ‘Leda Atomica’ which can be seen in the right of the photograph.

Halsman went on to produce many other notable works throughout his career while also earning widespread recognition. In 1958, he was listed as one of the “World's Ten Greatest Photographers,” and in 1975, he received the Life Achievement in Photography Award, cementing his legacy as a master of the craft.

All images courtesy of Magnum Photos. We would highly recommend checking out the full gallery here.

If you want more reading on Philippe Halsman, I highly recommend checking out more of his work with his friend Dali here. One of their photos, Voluptas Mors, was featured on the Silence of the Lambs movie cover. You can also read more about his iconic ‘Jump‘ series here.

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