Helmut Newton
1920–2004 · Germany / Australia / France
Fashion as a theatre of power relationships.
The story
Trained in Berlin by Yva, Helmut Newton left Nazi Germany and settled in Australia before pursuing an international career. His fashion photographs involve luxurious settings, assertive poses and ambiguous situations. Black and white sits alongside colour. His often provocative work invites examination of relationships between desire, social status, staging and the power of the gaze.
Understanding the work
Identify the roles assigned by pose, clothing and setting. The graphic strength of an image does not prevent discussion of the representation it offers.
Key works and series
Big Nudes; White Women; portraits; fashion photographs for Vogue.
