Richard Avedon redefined portrait and fashion photography in the 20th
century. In the 1940s Avedon burst onto the fashion scene, infusing his
photographs with touches of realism and the fantastic. His images were among
the first to replace the stiff poses of the past with energetic action scenes
that commanded the pages of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue magazines from the
mid-'40s through the 1980s. He took his models out of the studios and brought
them to cafes and casinos, posing them with well-dressed escorts. His models
nuzzled elephants, stood amongst circus performers, and leapt like gymnasts. As
his career progressed, Avedon developped a deceptively simple studio portrait
style, which he would continue throughout his life. With uncompromising
directness, he portrayed his subjects against a white background, with no
extraneous details to distract from the essential specificity of face, gaze,
dress, and gesture. This challenging innovation, coupled with the artist's
intense interest in his subjects and mastery of his craft, resulted in
mesmerizing portraits, among them Marilyn Monroe, Anna Magnani, Suzy Parker,
Tina Turner, Stephanie Seymour, and many more.
