DAY 23

FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS

Richard Avedon (1923–2004)

FASHIONABLY BRILLIANT

Known for photography that pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable, Richard Avedon redefined fashion photography with images that were both elegant and dynamic, yet contained elements of controlled imperfections. His trademark “Avedon blur” captured models sprinting across the page, caught mid-motion with fast shutter speeds. The final images often contained only a portion of the subject, conveying an intimate, loose quality. Avedon was best known for his portraits of notable celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, and Andy Warhol; his work for Vogue in the 1970s and 1980s was some of the most famous portraits of the time. Avedon’s images often include the dark black outline of the film frame, and final prints sometimes measured over three feet in height.

His professional career began in 1944 at Harper’s Bazaar, shortly after the end of his term as a World War II Merchant Marine photographer. He was soon photographing for many other magazines, including Look and Vogue. In the 1950s, Avedon created dramatic narrative images that showcased couture fashion against glamorous Parisian street scenes and became one of his most imitated innovations. The expression of character and spirit of his models was what made Twiggy famous in the 1960s.

In 1959, he worked with Truman Capote on Observations, a book that showcased some of the most famous people of the century. His work is in the permanent collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian Institution, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. (For more about Avedon, turn to page 154.) —GC