Bissinger, Karl

Biography

Karl Bissinger was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1914. He had a career as a photojournalist, serving as staff photographer at Flair and portraitist for Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Town & Country. His book, The Luminous Years: Portraits at Mid-Century (2003), contains examples of his portrait photography.

In 1955, Bissinger met the co-founders of the Living Theatre, Judith Malina and Judith Beck, in New York City after a protest against air raid drills. They became friends and Bissinger served as an occasional photographer of the Theatre and its performances.

After semi-retiring from photography, Bissinger went on to work for the American Friends Service Committee and the War Resisters League.

Source: Maronna, Michael. "Work As Though You Had Hope: An Interview with Karl Bissinger." Nonviolent Activist: The Magazine of the War Resisters League, July-August 1996.