Helmar Lerski (Israel Schmuklerski), was born in Strasbourg in 1871. In 1876, his family relocated to Zurich. Later, in 1888, Lerski emigrated to the United States.
After spending over 20 years as an actor in the United States, Lerski ventured into photography. Throughout his life, he continuously shifted between photography and cinema. Drawing on his theatrical background, Lerski incorporated stage lighting techniques into his portraiture, particularly when capturing images of his actor friends.
Lerski's distinctive style of portraiture, which was unconventional for its time in America, began to emerge. Rather than striving for an exact likeness or capturing individual facial features, he focused on universal imagery and archetypes. He employed contrasting light as a filter to eliminate any inaccuracies. Using numerous mirrors and special filters, he achieved dramatic light and shadow effects, transforming the human face into a sculpted landscape or an abstract relief.
Remarkably, Lerski achieved these groundbreaking results without the use of extraordinary technical devices. His technique relied on a large-format camera, mirrors, and contact prints. The essence lay in his concept and artistic approach to portraiture.