Portraits by Fred Stein

Fred Stein's well known portrait of Albert Einstein is one of over 1200 images of the most brilliant personalities of the 20th century: artists, politicians, scientists... men and women who influenced events profoundly. Well read and intellectually curious, Fred Stein was a fascinating conversationalist. He could set his subjects at ease and engage them in discussion, enabling him to find the moment that revealed the inner character. A ten minute appointment with Albert Einstein stretched into a two-hour session, despite the frequent protestations of Einstein's secretary. He worked with minimal lighting setups; this approach gave him flexibility and freedom. The impact of the portraits lies in seeing the great minds at work, not in a posed or artificial situation.

Carl Sandburg 1956

Richard Wright 1946

 

Herman Hesse 1961

Helen Keller 1955

Herbert Von Karajan 1955

Marian Anderson 1959