Little-known story about the iconic photo of genius Albert Einstein 'sticking out his tongue'
(Baonghean.vn) - It has been 70 years since the moment the genius physicist stuck out his tongue at a crowd of "annoying" reporters. The photo taken at that time made him an icon. But what is the story behind it?
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| The photo of Einstein sticking out his tongue is famous around the world. Photo: pa |
On March 14, 1951, Albert Einstein turned 72. Born in Ulm, Germany, the famous physicist spent many years in the United States. At the time, he was working at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. A birthday party was held in his honor at the institute.
As he left the party, paparazzi were already lurking outside the building, hoping to hear the world-renowned professor's witty quips about global politics - as well as snap the perfect birthday photo.
Einstein, who disliked the excitement of the media and was growing weary of speaking, was uncomfortable in the presence of reporters. Yet he found himself stuck in the back of a limousine, between former Institute Director Frank Aydelotte and his wife, unable to escape the flashbulbs. “That’s enough…” Einstein repeatedly shouted at the overzealous reporters. “Hey, Professor, smile for a birthday photo,” one shouted.
In a gesture of annoyance, the free-spirited eccentric stuck out his tongue at his pursuers – a moment quickly captured by photographer Arthur Sasse. The image quickly went viral, becoming an iconic image.
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| The image is used frequently, for example on Easter eggs. Photo: dpa |
The absent-minded professor with disheveled hair, who often forgot his socks, but whose theory of relativity, which to this day is understood by only the world’s brightest minds, was elevated to legendary status during his lifetime. The photo capturing the moment also helped make him an idol in the hearts of the public.
However, few people know that the photographer who made the photo famous around the world was not the one who made it famous, but Einstein himself. He ordered many prints and cropped them so that the Aydelotte couple was no longer in the frame. He sent dozens of such photos to colleagues, friends and acquaintances. “The sticking out tongue reflects my political views,” he wrote when sending it to his friend Johanna Fantova.
In 2009, an original autographed photo of him was auctioned for $74,324, making it the most expensive photo of the genius.
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| The photo was even recreated in a cornfield in Germany. Photo: dpa |
Since it was taken on Einstein’s birthday in 1951, the photo of him sticking out his tongue has been reproduced millions of times: on posters and T-shirts, on postcards, mugs and paintings. And even today, decades after his death, the revolutionary thinker and brilliant professor still has countless fans, young and old./.
