"Five Girls" 1962 HASKINS, Sam

HASKINS, Sam

[143] pp.

Crown Publishers, Inc

1962

14" x 11"

‘Five Girls’ was Sam Haskins first title produced 10 years after he completed his studies in London. It is a seminal book in the history of post war creative photography historically more important than its highly popular successor ‘Cowboy Kate & Other Stories’ which followed two years later in 1964. First published in 1962 ‘Five Girls’ became an instant best seller and is credited with liberating figure photography from the dual clichés of titilation and classical reference. The book presented an artistic signature fusing a celebration of aesthetics to highly creative and finely crafted photography which remained true throughout Sam’s career even when the emotional moods turned to lament (November Girl - 1967) or sadness (African Image - 1967) or family, spirituality and loss (Sam Haskins A Bologna - 1984). Still exerting sustained creative influence to this day ‘Five Girls’ remains an elusive creative reference for generations of fashion, glamour, portrait and figure photographers.