# Talk:Hans Namuth

Born in Essen, Germany in 1915, Namuth was forced to leave Germany as a teenager due to his liberal activism in an increasingly totalitarian environment.  In France, he learned about photography and wound up covering the Spanish Civil War for a year.  After being imprisoned due to his German parentage when World War II broke and subsequently serving in the French Foreign Legion, Namuth fled to New York City where he met teacher Alexey Brodovitch.  In 1949, Namuth met artist Jackson Pollock and the following year asked to photograph him in Pollock's studio.  Pollock accepted and Namuth photographed him using his famous "drip" technique in Pollock's Long Island studio.  In addition to black and white still photographs, Namuth also filmed Pollock at work on his glass painting.  After the film's completion, Pollock began drinking again, after having been treated for alcoholism years earlier.  Many art critics have pointed to this as the beginning of end of Jackson Pollock's career, leading some to claim that Namuth's work destroyed Pollock's freeness.  Even though Pollock never painted using his drip techniques again, Namuth's photographs gave Pollock recognition and fame and gave art historians insights into Pollock's methods and intentions.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Modernist (talk • contribs) 01:17, 4 September 2007 (UTC) 

I've updated the article with a few corrections from my art history professor, who teaches modern/post modern art and is one of the foremost Pollock scholars.  So this revision should be considered pretty reliable: here.  Of course, thats only as reliable as my word is... ;-)  Wickethewok 04:04, 28 September 2007 (UTC)
The article is taking shape, (I re spelled phony) which was right in the first place. Modernist 06:01, 28 September 2007 (UTC)
Coolios.  Fairly reliable version: [1].  Wickethewok 06:32, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

Image:Hans Namuth.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.
Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.
If there is  other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page.  Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.
BetacommandBot 10:50, 1 October 2007 (UTC)

Fixed the Fair use rationale. Modernist 12:16, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

Hi Wickethewok! This is an interesting article on the tension between photography and art. I think it is a good article, and therefore a "Good Article" as well. I hope you don't mind the copyediting I did; if you don't like something or if I accidentally changed a meaning, please revert. 

I was wondering what the title of the film was, since you say that "This documentary (co-produced with Paul Falkenberg) is considered one of the most influential for artists"
I wasn't clear on the reason for the argument between Pollock and Namuth. Did Namuth give him a hard time for returning to liquor?
More photos would be great, but I know there is a slim chance of battling the bots.
Cheers, –Outriggr § 05:26, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Much thanks for all the copyediting and the time you put into reviewing it!  I'll double-check the copyedits soon though.
The stuff you were wondering about:

I think the title of the film is just Jackson Pollock or something like that - I will try to figure out if this is correct and cite it.
There's much speculation of why this argument broke out, but I don't think there's any completely definitive reason.  Most critics I've read point to some sort of perspective change on Pollock's part due to the filming and photography - that by documenting his creative process, Pollock's paintings somehow changed in Pollock's mind.  I haven't read anything about Namuth giving Pollock a hard time about his drinking.
There's probably no chance of getting any free images for this article, as the Namuth estate controls all the copyrights.  I've tried contacting the various people who manage the copyrights for these images, but I haven't had any responses.  Photos of Namuth himself seem especially limited.  I think, however, that another fair use image could be justified.  Maybe the one thats used for the cover of the Portraits book which features Andy Warhol ([2]), and the text should probably talk a little about Portraits, too.
Wickethewok 06:02, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

I'm kind of hoping you can find another Namuth picture of Pollock to replace the one on Jackson Pollock that was deleted because it was from a book cover. Modernist 16:53, 14 October 2007 (UTC)