Rob Hammer

Holding the Line

2024

Original photograph by the Artist.

Photo printed on Hahnemuhle Baryta paper. Edition of 25. Unframed.

A series of five photographs by Betty Hahn titled, "Arrival or Departure (After Hitchcock), 1987, a series of five gelatin silver photographs" 17" by 24 each". A copy of the book included "Betty Hahn by Steve Yates. Gelatin silver photographic prints on paper mounted on foam board. Each has a sticker "BHC" with the letter indicating the print sequence "A-E". Following excerpt from the book "Betty Hahn "Photography Or Maybe Not" by Steve Yates, from the essay by Dana Asbury: "Instead of crime fiction and forensic photograph, the first filmic sequences have a moody raking light of film noir in the forties, and she titles Arrival or Departure (After Hitchcock) (plate 117). This series of 5 photographs (1987) shows the back of a man, unidentified, at a deserted train station, in late afternoon light. The rest is ambiguous. Is he coming or going? Is he moving away from him? Is there significance to the first close-up shot of a black duffel bag stuffed under his arm? It was of course Hitchcock's particular genius to explore the ominousness of everyday situations, and to show us that looking to long at anything makes it look suspicious. This series pays homage to Hitchcock's use of the tracking shot that conveys his terrifying message behind "Teddy Bear", that there is serious threat in ordinary objects. This series also fits in with the mood of "Appearance, Ehrlichman Surveillance", and many of the crime series-solitary male figure in an urban setting. There is a tough edge to these works." Unsigned, gallery receipt of purchase copy included with notation on verso . 5 framed images. Each image, 16.5"H x 23.5"L. The following biography is by Fumiko Koizumi at: The Visual Studies Workshop in association with the State University of New York at Brockport Betty Hahn was born Elizabeth Jean Okon on October 11, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1967, Betty Hahn moved to Rochester to pursue a job at Kodak or Xerox. While in Rochester, she participated in Nathan Lyons's Visual Studies Workshop from 1967 to 1968. Lyons lectured on "vernacular" and "snap shot" photography to workshop students, reinforcing Betty's interest in this "folk" tradition. During her time at the VSW she met Tom Barrow, Roger Mertin, and Alice Wells, and reconnected with Robert Fichter. She was encouraged by how their work was challenging the rules of what was common in fine-print photography. At age 10, her aunt Marcella Brown gave Betty her first camera, a Brownie #2. At this same time the Okon family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. After graduating from Scecina Memorial Catholic High School in Indianapolis, she entered Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She earned a four-year scholarship and studied fine arts. While she was experimenting with photographic image making her initial artistic experiences involved painting and drawing. She did not take photography seriously as a medium for her artistic expression during her undergraduate work. At age 23, Hahn graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree and continued at Indiana University for graduate studies in the department of photography. At the suggestion of Henry Holmes Smith...

Late 19th century portrait of a young boy by Arnold Genthe (German, 1869-1942). Signed "Arnold Genthe" lower left. "Billie 11 mo." on verso in the artist...