Hy Hirsh

Hy Hirsh worked at Columbia Studios (Hollywood) as a cameraman and still photographer to support himself while developing a reputation as an art photographer. He was a WPA photographer 1936-37, and the official photographer for DeYoung Museum in San Francisco, 1937-1954. He had numerous one-man shows of his photographs 1935-1955. He provided technical help for filmmakers Jordan Belson, Patricia Marx, Harry Smith and Larry Jordan, among others. A gourmet cook and avid music fan, he had recording equipment for documenting jazz performances. Hirsh began making abstract animation films in 1951 with Divertissement Rococo, followed by a stereoscopic film Come Closer and then Eneri (1952-53).

Hirsh moved to Europe in 1955, then worked in Spain, Holland, and France on his films and fine art photography for Elle, Realities, Vanity Fair and other fashion magazines. His films Autumn Spectrum and Gyromorphosis received awards at the 1958 Brussels Exposition. He also prepared multiple-projection shows with live jazz performances.

When he died suddenly of a heart attack in Paris, police found hashish in his possession and sized his estate. When his belongings were finally released three years later, a number of his films were missing, or only single copies remained.

William Moritz, courtesy Center for Visual Music