Early life and career
Hamilton was born in London in 1933 and grew up in Dorset, England. He moved to France in 1953, where he worked as a graphic designer for Elle magazine. He later became the art director of Printemps, a large French department store, and also worked for other magazines such as RÃalitÃs, Twen, and Photo.
Artistic style and themes
Hamilton's artistic style was influenced by the paintings of the Impressionists and the Pre-Raphaelites, as well as by the cinema of Jean Renoir and Ingmar Bergman. He used a special filter and a long exposure time to create a soft-focus effect that blurred the edges and details of his subjects. He also favored natural light, muted colors, and pastoral settings to evoke a sense of nostalgia, innocence, and sensuality.
Hamilton's main theme was the female form, especially that of young women and girls in their adolescence or early adulthood. He often depicted them nude or semi-nude, posing in intimate or erotic situations. He claimed that he wanted to capture the beauty and purity of their transition from childhood to womanhood, and that he had their consent and trust. However, his work also sparked controversy and criticism for its perceived exploitation, voyeurism, and pedophilia.
Books, films, and exhibitions
Hamilton published over 20 photography books during his career, featuring thousands of his artistic photographs. Some of his most popular books include Dreams of a Young Girl (1971), Sisters (1972), The Age of Innocence (1995), and Erotic Tales (1998). He also directed five feature films based on his photographic themes, such as Bilitis (1977), Laura (1979), and Tender Cousins (1980). His films were mostly well-received in Europe, but banned or censored in other countries.
Hamilton exhibited his work in many prestigious venues, such as the Images Gallery in New York City in 1977, the Nikon Gallery in Paris in 1978, the Hamiltons Gallery in London in 2006, and the Kunst Haus Wien in Vienna in 2010. He also collaborated with other artists, such as Salvador Dali, who painted over some of his photographs, and Alice Springs, who photographed him for her book Portraits (1983).
Death and legacy
Hamilton died in 2016 at the age of 83 in his apartment in Paris. The cause of death was reported as suicide by asphyxiation, following allegations of rape by several women who claimed that he had sexually assaulted them when they were minors. Hamilton denied the accusations and said that he was the victim of a witch-hunt.
Hamilton's legacy remains controversial and divisive. Some critics and fans praise him as a master of erotic art and a pioneer of fine art photography. Others condemn him as a predator and a pedophile who exploited his models and violated their rights. His work is still widely collected and admired by some, but banned or boycotted by others. His influence can be seen in the works of other photographers such as Sally Mann, Jock Sturges, Jacques Bourboulon, and Irina Ionesco.
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