#AtoZChallenge: David Douglas Duncan (Picasso)

–David Douglas Duncan as featured on the website of photographer Joe McNally: shot in Dublin for IPPA workshop

David Douglas Duncan was born in 1916, making the former Marine and war photographer 102 years old. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Duncan developed an interest in photography and travel. He was also a Boy Scout and became an Eagle Scout at an age younger than most.

Duncan graduated from the University of Miami in 1938 with a zoology degree and he also majored in Spanish. From working at the school newspaper, Duncan’s interest in photojournalism flourished.

When war came in just a few years, Duncan enlisted in the Marines and worked as a war photographer. He did see action and fought against the Japanese at Bougainville Island. He was also present on the USS Missouri when the Japanese surrendered. Duncan again photographed the Korean War and later the Vietnam War. He has published a few books about war and his time in the military. He worked for Life magazine for many years after World War II.

Another one of his famous subjects besides war was Pablo Picasso. Duncan had actually been introduced to Picasso by the even more famous war photographer, Robert Capa. Not only was Duncan Picasso’s photographer, but the two artists became good friends through the years. Picasso was the subject of 7 of Duncan’s 26 books.

Presently, Duncan lives in France near Mougins, the city where his friend Picasso died.

—Alone with Picasso, Villa La Californie, Cannes, 1960, Picasso Paints a Portrait by David Douglas Duncan, inner flap of dust jacket verso. Photo by Gjon Mili.

From the book jacket of Duncan’s book entitled Goodbye, Picasso that was published in 1974:

It began in February, 1956 — this bond between two artists. The American photographer was on his way home from Afghanistan. The Spanish painter was sitting in his bathtub at home in the south of France: Voilà! . . . the first Picasso photograph of tens of thousands taken during the next seventeen years when David Douglas Duncan often shared the simple meals, the constant work, the gaiety, the countless explosions of creativity. After other guests had gone, Duncan still remained in the studio — by now his second home. Thus was born a friendship unique in the lives of both men. Two minds, two hearts, each discovering a special communication with the other. While photographing hundreds of Picasso’s paintings, surrounded by myriad other works that overflowed the studio, Duncan also recorded many of the emotion-charged events at the heart of the household.

Much of Duncan’s work can be found by following THIS LINK to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas.

Sources: Harry Ransom Center, JoeMcNally.com, Wikipedia