Famous Artists and Their Models

On By ResaIn Famous Artists and Their Models

In the March 23, 1962 issue of Life magazine was an article titled “Famous Artists and Their Models”.

In getting rid of stuff, old magazines used for research are going. I bought them in the early 2000’s when I was working for Showtime.

In going through the magazines, I found this article. It is so fascinating, I have to share.

Nick of time, the magazine crumbled as I held it. I did my best taking pics.

The articles are photographed and presented in a way to see and read best.

I adore all of the anecdotal editorial that came with these fabulous images.

Click on the cover of the issue, and it will take you to a PDF of the article as presented in the magazine, as opposed to how I have presented. It is downloadable.

I can’t think of a more fitting work of music than “Frozen” by MK-O, featuring our dear dahling Marina on vocals ( & more). After all, the models are gone, but the images that came from their poses are frozen in time.

121 thoughts on “Famous Artists and Their Models”

  1. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

    Wonderful post, Resa. “Frozen” is perfect for the post. Life Magazine was really art oriented. W. Eugene Smith is one of my favorite photographers. He did wonderful series for Life Magazine. The “Country Doctor” series is fantastic.

    1. I just checked W. Eugene Smith out. I do have some 1940’s Life Magazines, but not 48. Darn, I would save those articles.

      I watched Weird: The Al Yankovic Story last night.
      It’s up for an Emmy – best TV movie.
      I’ve watched 4 of the 5 nominees now. So far it’s the best one.
      I’ll watch the 5th tonight, and vote before I go to bed! xo

      1. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

        Too bad you don’t have 48. It’s a great photo essay. I saw some clips of The Al Yankovic Story on YT. It looks like fun. Although, I noticed in one clip the actor who plays Alice Cooper had an Anaconda. It’s weird, as AC performed with red-tailed boa constrictors like my Blue. In WAY’s case he might have done that on purpose to be more ridiculous. But those kinds of sloppiness on details drive me crazy.

        1. I thought so at first, about a bunch of stuff. Then I realized it was a parody of his life story, and the times; not a docudrama of his life.
          You have to see it to understand what he did, like it or not.
          Lots and lots of fun parts.
          Lots and lots of My Bolognas… so to speak.
          If anyone has any doubts about his insanity on this parody, the ending hits it home. xx

      2. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

        It’s a fantastic photo essay, and so is his book “Minimata: Life Sacred and Profane”. I studied W. Eugene Smith in the early 80s in photo and photo history classes. I don’t think he ever took a bad photo.

          1. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

            I didn’t study with Smith. He died a few years before I started studying photography at the university. However, my photo history professor, Beaumont Newhall, knew Smith and had interesting stories about him and all the great photoghers from the 20th Century.

            That is the iconic photo from the Minimata series. I read the family asked for it to be removed from later editions of the book. The original books are pretty rare and expensive these days.

              1. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

                I don’t believe you can find a recent Minimata book. You could search. I don’t know about other books.

                  1. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

                    Speaking of books that should be part of the historical/cultural conversation, but only a few exist is “Saga Minds” written by Mikhail Steblin-Kamenskij in the Soviet Union in 1973. Kenneth H. Ober got the book out of the USSR and translated into English. Steblin-Kamenskij has a very unique take on the Icelandic Sagas, and it’s a wonderful little book. It’s interesting that he was allowed to publish a book with such an interesting, non-Soviet perspective, in the USSR in 1973. A few university libraries have a copy of the book, but it’s almost impossible to find one for sale. After scouring the Internet high and low, I did acquire our own copy. Laurie has it filled with Stickies of the parts she referenced in papers.

                    3. This sounds interesting. I wonder if our special library here has it. One may not borrow the books here, but one may sit in the building and read.

                    4. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

                      We went to the National Library in Madrid, Spain, to browse through their books. Only credentialed scholars with letters about their research could access the National Library. ¡Estupidos gaujiros Americanos! They had local libraries we could check out novels and children’s books. But they were nothing like the public libraries we have in the US of A.

        1. I agree! The world is filled with talented people. That is one of the good things about internet; more of the arts are exposed to the masses.

  5. Wow, that was quite a description for Miss Gaudin by Lautrec! These are fascinating peeks into the faces/people behind the paint.
    And this may be my love of 1970’s/80’s electronica talking, but surely “The Model” by Kraftwerk would have suited this post?😎🤣

    1. Lol, I know. Political correctness was non existent back then.
      So, it’s Emmy time and I’m now on the Best Costumes in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category.
      There’s 6 nominees. Watched Hocus Pocus …hate it.
      I’ll watch Obi-Wan Kenobi & The Mandalorian tomorrow.
      True, “The Model”would be cool! Did you listen to”Frozen”. Its fab!

      1. Hi Resa, hopefully the episodes of Mandalorian and Kenobi are the good ones…but if you don’t find any good costumes in those shows maybe you could nominate /vote for my outfit I put together🤣 I haven’t viewed the Frozen video yet as I was still battling with my laptop battery but I will take a listen in a few minutes time!

        1. I should have listened to Marina’s piece earlier….Phenomenal. I could easily imagine this as part of a soundtrack for a sci-fi film by Luc Besson or Denis Villeneuve!

  6. What a fascinating post, dear Sorceress! I love that you were enticed to share the magazine that so captured your attention before chucking it. I do that, too (lose myself in something before I throw it out). MK-O is perfect!

    1. It was too good not to keep it electronically. Although these old magazines really conjure up a stench. 😵‍💫
      Agree, MK-O is right on! ⚡️💥 xoxo

    1. Good thing I’m checking before chucking.
      These old magazines would kill someone with allergies. They smell wildly musty.
      Yeah, I love MK-O! I can hardly wait for Marina to see this. I did ask permission, of course!
      xx🐭🐭oo

      1. It’s awesome the jewels we find packed away. My husband is a bit of a hoarder and has books and magazines from way back. Yeah, the dust etc is a killer but I stay out of his military trunk. I really love the Talouse Latrec (sp) pics! Love all of this dahling meece , I’m sure Marina will too! xoxoxo

        1. Norman is a bit of a hoarder, too.
          Anyway, the old magazines are crumbling away. This one was 61 years old!
          I like the Lautrec anecdotes & pics the best. It’s neat to get a little insight into their artistic bend. xoxoxo

    1. Oh yay! It isa great old article, 61 years old. I just had to save it. Did you check out the download?
      Glad it brought you a special moment or 2.

      1. She is not and I don’t think she ever will. She doesn’t really jump on things and I still can’t hold her either. But we get along beautifully and I don’t force her do anything that will scare her. We have a routine and she’s the leader. She let’s me pet her and she sits on the floor by me sometimes. She often comes when I call her but she has her own life and I’m okay with that as long as she’s safe and happy. I do want to hold her so bad. LOL So bad.

        1. I understand. She’s the boss. Well, it took 9years for her to come inside. I believe there will be a day when you can hold her. xx

          1. I hope so. It’s so hard not to be able to do that. I sit by her when she let’s me. And I pet her but she gets a little stressed so she gets up, looks at me, as if she wants to stay, but has to walk away. I just do whatever she wants me to do. As usual.

            1. Norm calls it stay go. Our last cat, Pupkin, was like that. He would come, stay, but then just when optimum comfort was achieved, he would go.
              Norm said it was his preservationist nature.

              1. I totally agree. That’s exactly what it is. I’m just happy she’s here and I can be what she wants me to be. She’s so sweet. I’m so crazy about her. LOL You and I are truly cat people.

  10. Oh, my goodness, dahling! How precious! I’m so glad you kept it! This is such an amazing post and we’re so honoured you chose this song to accompany it. Frozen in time and timeless! I also find this very moving…
    A huge thank you, dahling
    …and, you didn’t think you’d escape the slobberies, did you?!!!
    💗❤️🥰💕🤗😘💕❤️🌸🌷💖💗😘🤗🐾😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘

    1. 🌊🏄‍♀️🧽🧽🧽🧽🧽🧽🧽xoxoxoxoxoxo
      I was ready for all the slobberies, which = love!
      “Frozen” is perfect and perfect for this post.
      I’m feeling good about archiving this article.
      ….and a huge thank you for letting me use your music!
      💖🎨🌺🎼💓💜🌸 xoxoxoxoxo

      1. I doubt you can ever be that ready for the slobberies! 😉 xoxoxoxoxo
        Awwwww…. thank you so much, dahling
        A HUGE thank you back, my sweet friend!
        and more love and xoxoxoxoxo
        and ….here comes Hera!
        xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

  11. How interesting the ways the artists chose their models. Van Gogh’s story of his own expectation is so sad. It’s true that the models are gone, but the images that came from their poses are frozen in time. Thank you for the download. Great post, Resa!

    1. You’re welcome, Miriam!
      I was captivated by this 21 year old article.
      The magazine turned to paper flakes, the artist and models are gone, but the art remains.
      Chilling how important the arts are.
      Thank you!

    1. Thank you dear ‘Oron!
      This article is 61 years old. The models are gone, the artists are gone, the magazine is in paper flakes, but the art remains.
      Hooray for art! xo

    1. TOF!!!!! You can comment again. YAY!!!
      Thanks, I love this article…61 years old. The magazine is now paper flakes.
      Agree, it is superb.

      1. Well, young Resa. I discovered that on the ‘reader’ there’s a ‘spot’ where one can comment. I’ve never ‘spotted’ that before. Most odd, or perhaps it’s new. Why it’s on the Reader I don’t know. Anyhow, it’s sorted for now. All the very best, TOF

  16. That’s really fascinating, my dear friend. It is something one might never think of: who was the model? However, I am not sure if I kept still by being a kiss-model and not going further!😅🖖💖
    PS: Thanks alo for PDF.🙏🥰

  18. Very cool article. Always fun to see things like this, though I want to see more! There needs to be a book of photos of famous models used by artists. The MK-O song is great 🙂

    1. You’re welcome, Merril!
      I was so captivated by this 61 year old article, that I just had to share.
      The Lautrec comment about Carmen Gaudin really is of the era. Today….???

  20. Wow, Resa, this is an amazing post full of interesting pieces of information. It is almost quite creepy looking at the models and the pictures and other artworks of them. They are themselves, but not exactly. I also have to do clear outs from time to time because I am an avid collector of things that interest me so I have 3000 books, a doll collection, an African art collection, paintings, cushions, postcards, antique painted plates and many other things including stacks of National Geographic magazines.

    1. OMG!
      It sounds like a great collection.
      Thing is, I find I have so much stuff, that I don’t get to enjoy it.
      I’m trying to clear out to the point where there is only the cream of the cream left, and I can see things at a glance. That way I can enjoy what I have more fully. If that makes any sense?
      Lots of my stuff is being given to other collectors, and I’m even selling some things. Brings in some extra cash.
      Lots of work!
      Hey, it’s Friday! Have a fab weekend, Roberta!

  21. What a fabulous post, Resa! So interesting to delve deeper into the history of who the models were. And your song choice is perfect. Of course, I love the lovely Marina (her voice is just so beautiful) and MK-O! And frozen in time, indeed! A great share! Hugs xo

    1. I couldn’t resist sharing this. It is so darn fascinating.
      The anecdotal info is enlightening.
      The magazine is now paper flakes.
      What a joy it is to use MK-O music. Hugs XO

  23. This is my third time to your post and I will return again to revisit these iconic moments, Resa. The questions that came to mind for me were: Why are we interested in photos of the past and sculptures of the past and art of the past? Is it the stories or the art compels us? I believe that we are interested in art of the past because they provide a visual representation of history. The history that could have been ours had we lived during these artists’ time. How wonderful to have these forms of art. They allow us to see and understand the people, places, and events that shaped our world and are now informing our present. The stories behind art give insight into the lives of those who gave us their creativity and connected us to our shared human experience.

    Many, many thanks!

    1. I think because we see how art is remembering us, our past.
      Of course the anecdotes are a wonderful peek into something driving the artists.
      Well, this magazine is now a pile of paper flakes.
      Did you see I put a download of the article as it appeared in LIFE?
      I just had to share this, from 61 years ago.
      Okay, TV art… if you will… the “Academy of Television Arts and Sciences” awards… the Emmys!
      It’s voting time, and I am a voting member.
      So, it’s best costumes in a Fantasy or Sci-Fi. I’ve done the other 4 Costume categories.
      Then there are 15 Best Show categories I can vote in.
      Anyway, I’m off to watch Obi-Wan Kenobi!
      Hugs!

  25. How fascinating Resa. Are they all examples of the male gaze? Brings to mind a fascinating art book I have and refer to often, ‘Women and Art: Contested Territory,’
    by Judy Chicago (Author), Edward Lucie-Smith (Author)

  26. Fantastic post, great idea to keep it digitally. i went to see the Van Gough exhibit in Kings Cross London it was fascinating, 3D and was an immersive experience with virtual reality, his pictures and the stories behind them and a large images put on the walls in a large room with the visitors sat on benches and on the floor to watch the final part of the show. You would love it. Such a sad life story though and after he committed suicide his beloved brother Theo also died.

    1. It is a sad story about Van Gogh.
      In the article I shared (61 years old), it says he committed suicide 6 weeks after the drawing he did for the shown model’s sister.
      She was 16. He died in 1890. That means she was 88 when the photo in the article was taken.
      Lives and times are fascinating.

      Yes, I’m glad I’ve digitally archived this. The magazine is now a pile of paper flakes.

        1. The immersive shows are popular here, too.
          The Van Gogh one might still be here, not sure.
          There have been several others. I really should get to one.
          Yes, and I’ll make sure I go through all the disintegrating magazines before I toss them, just in case!
          ❦❦❦

          1. I’ve put together some of the photos of exhibits from The Tate Modern Museum with some photos my Dad took, as he isn’t really into contemporary art and thinks people won’t be able to tell his art to the real thing 😂. You’ll see why I’m a bit kooky when you see it! George and I are off to an archery 🏹 lesson for our wedding anniversary, the first anniversary we went plate smashing, this one archery, my parents joked, are we learning how to kill each other.

            1. What fun!
              Hope you have a great time. Your parents are funny! 😂.
              I saw the post, and I made my guesses!
              I wonder how I did?

  27. Good you digitally archived at least this part, dear Resa. I have a few Time’s and they always have good articles, as well as some great adverts. Whew… I know what you mean about musty-smelling old magazines, papers, comics and books. Archiving is a dirty job… but someone’s gotta do it 😁😀

    1. Ford,
      Yes, the adverts are a riot.
      However, I’m choking on mustiness and will now photo what I want before giving the magazines away. Most are actually flaking apart. I have some from the 40’s and 50’s. Each page tears as you turn it.
      I threw a lot out over the years, and never thought of taking pics of the parts I like.
      Anyway, I’ll digitally archive what I want from what I have left.
      There’s a 2 page centre ad for “Gladiators” starring Victor Mature and Susan Hayward. 1954 Life magazine.
      I’ll mail that to you, and any other movie ads …if there are any!
      Cheers!

  28. Wow, that was like going back in a time machine, lol. I remember that gothic couple with the pitchfork circulating – decades ago! Great post Resa! ❤ xxx

  29. Thanks for sharing this amazing find with us, Resa! I wish paper lasted longer – I could see it crumbling there … Thank goodness for photos to hold onto some of it!

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