Eberhardt Kronhausen was a German-born American filmmaker, photographer, and psychoanalyst known for his pioneering work in the fields of sexology and erotica. He was born on March 15, 1906 in Berlin, Germany to a Jewish family and was raised in a middle-class home. He pursued a degree in medicine at the University of Berlin, but his studies were interrupted by the Nazi rise to power, and he was forced to flee to the United States in 1933.
In the United States, Kronhausen worked as a psychoanalyst, and eventually settled in New York City. He began photographing erotic imagery of couples in the 1950s, and soon became a central figure in the sexology movement, teaching courses on sex and art at New York University. In 1958, he and his wife, Phyllis, founded the Erotic Art Research and Documentation Institute, which featured a wide range of scholarly research, including books and films, on sexuality and art.
Kronhausen's work as a filmmaker began in the mid-1960s, when he produced and directed films such as The Sex Symphony (1966) and The Couple (1967). These films explored the dynamics of relationships between men and women, and featured erotic scenes of couples engaged in sexual activities. He continued to produce and direct films throughout the 1970s and 1980s, often working with his wife, Phyllis.
Kronhausen's work as a filmmaker and photographer was often controversial, and he was often criticized for his explicit depictions of sexuality. However, he was an influential figure in the sexology movement, and his work helped to challenge the traditional notions of sexuality and gender roles. He was also a prolific author, writing numerous books on sex and art, including Erotic Art in the Twentieth Century (1969) and Sex and Its Impact (1974).
Kronhausen passed away in 2001 at the age of 95. His legacy lives on in his films, photographs, and works of scholarship, which continue to challenge and inform discussions of sex and art today. He was an influential figure in the sexology movement, and his pioneering work helped pave the way for further exploration of sexuality and art.
