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| One of Horst's most famous images... |
Horst
P Horst born as ‘Horst Paul Albert Bohrmann’ was a German-American
photographer known for his fashion photography which featured in popular
fashion magazines such as Vogue. He is often thought of as one of the
founders of modern day fashion photography.
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I think perhaps it is a good idea to take a look at what was happening
at around the time Horst was born, which was 1906. During the early
1920-30s the fashion photography industry expanded drastically when two
popular fashion magazines competed for the best photos - this is
probably something which drew Horst to explore photography within the
fashion industry.
****** American website eHow said that during this time, “Many
fashion photographers became celebrities in their own right, having
their own studios and careers in photographic arts as well as fashion.” (www.ehow.com/about_5082411_fashion-photographers.html)
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A few magazines at this time which were seen as competitors included;
“Harper’s Bazaar,” and “Vogue.” Horst’s photography was published in
Vogue early on in his career. The magazine Vogue is now seen as the
place where Horst found his success.
Horst’s official website quotes his contribution to society as “most artistically significant” and long lasting.
***** A quote from the website reads,
“His
name became legendary as a one-word photographic byline, and his
photographs came to be seen as synonymous with the creation of images of
elegance, style and rarefied glamour.” (http://www.horstphorst.com/abouthorst.php)
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His contribution to society can also be seen in an MTV video clip by
pop star singer Madonna. During the early 1990s Madonna released her
single Vogue of which she opted for creating a classic fashion
photography scene.
The
scene which features towards the end of the MTV clip recreated by
director David Fincher recreates Horst’s prized work the “Mainbocher
Corset, 1939.”
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From this clip you can see how his photography style has been used as
one of the main methods of communicating fashion successfully.
His
contribution to society is also put back into the industry that made
his success. His images have been featured in countless exhibitions
including Fashion 1900-1939 (at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London
1975) and also at the International Center of Photography in New York
where his images featured in the exhibition Fleeting Gestures -- Two
years after Horst’s death his portrait photography was also featured at
the National Gallery in London.
****
His
work has not only contributed to his success but to the success of many
other photographers in the fashion industry that he is said to have
influenced.
The
book known as the The Berg Companion to Fashion proposes his work has
influenced photographers such as Robert Mapplethorp, Bruce Weber and
Herb Rittis.
In
Summary, Horst’s own success has influenced the photography industry.
His success has contributed to the success of other photographers who
thanks to his work have been able to create a name for themselves as
well.
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