Скачать или смотреть Number 1 (1939) | The Very First Film by Harry Smith | Early Abstractions

From the Vaults of LostReel.com: The Genesis of an American Visionary

LostReel.com is thrilled to go back to the very beginning and present a work of raw, youthful genius: "Number 1," the very first film ever made by the legendary artist and mystic Harry Smith. Created when he was just a teenager in 1939, this is the initial spark of a lifelong cinematic journey.

A Symphony Painted on Celluloid.
This is the birth of Harry Smith's "Early Abstractions." Forget cameras. "Number 1" is a work of pure, unmediated creation, with Smith painting, batiking, and scratching abstract forms directly onto the 35mm film strip itself. The result is a vibrant and rhythmic dance of color and shape, a piece of visual music that is intensely personal and handcrafted. It is a direct transmission from the artist's hand to the viewer's eye.

The First Step of the Magus.
Even in this first effort, the obsessions that would define Harry Smith's entire polymathic career are present. This is not just an animation; it's an alchemical experiment, an attempt to create a new, universal language that could synchronize the eye, the ear, and the soul. This early fascination with abstract, rhythmic patterns would become the foundation for his later, more complex investigations into consciousness, mysticism, and the hidden structures of the universe.

An Essential Piece of Avant-Garde History.
"Number 1" is a testament to the power of pure, youthful creativity and a vital document in the history of experimental film. It is the genesis point for one of the 20th century's most unique and influential artistic voices. As a platform dedicated to unearthing cinematic gems, LostReel.com invites you to witness the beautiful and historically essential first statement from a true American original.

Director: Harry Smith
Year: 1939

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