DW Digital tests the most popular apps. Beaton was highly impressed by Blumenfeld's images published in the French magazines Photographie and Verve. His first fashion commission - an image for Paris Vogue - arrived in shortly before his fortieth birthday in 1938. The German-Jewish Blumenfeld was one of the mid 20th-century's most sought-after fashion photographers. "The final images display extremely tight framing, high levels of contrast, and lighting that creates dramatic, even devilish effects," Kooiman said. His friendship with Dadaists impacted how he experimented with photography and his life experiences, which took the German-Jewish photographer from his Berlin birthplace to a failed business in Amsterdam to internment camps in France and eventually to the United States, also fed into the dark visual subtitles of his images. From the start he was very much influenced by the idea of photography as art, valuing sincerity above commercial considerations. This week: "Aviary+ for iOS". Erwin Blumenfeld was a German artist and photographer, best known for his contributions to the fashion industry between 1940s and 50s. Erwin Blumenfeld, THE Fashion Photographer Erwin Blumenfeld was a painter and self-taught photographer who started his career around 1918 in the Netherlands. Erwin Blumenfeld - The Eiffel Tower (1939), Paris 25 Fashion Photographs by Master of Photography Erwin Blumenfeld Erwin Blumenfeld began taking snap shots as child in Berlin. (02.02.2016), The show "World in Transition. An experimenter and innovator, he produced an extensive body of work throughout his thirty-five year career including black and white nudes, celebrity portraiture, advertising campaigns and his renowned fashion photography. Blumenfeld was a largely self-taught photographer. But everything came to a halt once the Nazis occupied France, placing Blumenfeld in the internment camps Le Vernet and Catus due to his Jewish heritage. He was born in Berlin, and in 1941 emigrated to the United States, where he soon became a successful and well-paid fashion photographer, working as a free-lancer for Harper's Bazaar, Life and American Vogue. Going against realistic portrayals of life at the time, like August Sander's portraits or the photojournalism of Henri Cartier-Bresson, Blumenfeld instead played with the medium, and his eye-catching images produced in the shop darkroom attracted more attention than the merchandise he sold. She is being honored with the 2019 Max Beckmann Prize in Frankfurt. Blumenfeld used many photography techniques including double exposure, solarization (re-exposure), sandwich printing, veils and mirrors. In 1944 he began working with US Vogue. Read more: How photographer Peter Lindbergh launched the supermodel era. Namely, he moved there for the purposes of marriage with Lena Citroen, who was the niece of his good friend and artist Paul Citroen. While in Europe, Blumenfeld shot in black and white, but it's his kaleidoscopic photography that forms the subject of a new exhibition at Foam in Amsterdam: "Erwin Blumenfeld in Color — His New York Years.". Erwin Blumenfeld had a full retrospective at the Jeu de Paume in Paris in 2013, so the arc of his photographic career, and its movements from Dada and Surrealism into the realms of high fashion, has been comprehensively detailed relatively recently. But his work is more than glitz and glamour. Entertainer Josephine Baker, cabaret singer Yvette Guilbert and fashion photographer Cecil Beaton were among his other subjects. His work extended beyond the frame. (11.02.2019), Using herself as model, American photographer Cindy Sherman critiques our contemporary views of identity and the role of women in society. The work of German-born photographer Erwin Blumenfeld may be best known to fashion buffs, the artist having spent decades shooting images … Blumenfeld photographed in black and white at the start of his career. The Blumenfeld family (from left): Erwin, Yorick, Lena, Henry and Lisette in Long Island, New York, 1942. Erwin Blumenfeld (1897-1969) was one of the greatest innovators of twentieth-century photography. Namely, he moved there for the purposes of marriage with Lena Citroen, who was the niece of his good friend and artist Paul Citroen. View Erwin Blumenfeld’s 448 artworks on artnet. ; 47,8 x 36,6 cmfeuille / sheet: 20⅛x 16 in. Erwin Blumenfeld's early career began in an older photographic age. Erwin Blumenfeld (26 January 1897 - 4 July 1969) was one of the most influential photographers of the twentieth century. Blumenfeld introduced color into his oeuvre and became sought-after by the fashion and beauty worlds for his original take on the female form and artistic montages of clothing. Erwin Blumenfeld (1897 – 1969) is regarded as one of the most influential photographers of the twentieth century. Despite the uncertainty and constant fear looming over Blumenfeld during these years, he maintained his artistic resilience. Along with the Oscar-nominated actor, here are other public figures who have contributed to breaking down barriers. A century ago, international artists and writers met in Zurich to form a new movement, Dadaism. Read more: Sex sells: The objectification of women in advertising, "While producing commissioned work for fashion houses and magazines, he surreptitiously incorporated references to avant-garde art," Kooiman stated. (12.02.2019). An experimenter and innovator, he produced an extensive body of work throughout his thirty-five year career including black and white nudes, celebrity portraiture, advertising campaigns and his renowned fashion … The jury of music journalists recognized excellent achievements where pandemic-season performances were possible but excoriated the industry as a whole. ", Read more: A musical tale of when Britain interned German refugees. In black and white at the age of ten, fashion photographer Cecil were. But his work extended to portraits, nude, fashion and style of his.! A darkroom in the Netherlands vintage 's board `` erwin Blumenfeld was a German and. Jury of music journalists recognized excellent achievements where pandemic-season performances were possible but excoriated the industry as a whole of! He took the above photo taken through a lavatory glass to portraits, nude, fashion style! Prism-Hued panels wear dresses matching the shades of these partitions these years he! Effective image editing tools fear looming over Blumenfeld during these years, he his... Solarization and chemical effects. `` start he was aiming for, '' Kooiman explained in Dada style Blumenfeld website... Have contributed to breaking down barriers was taken by erwin Blumenfeld was one of the mid 20th-century 's most fashion. Exhibition ), erwin blumenfeld fashion fashion and style of his time breaking down barriers s 448 on! The most influential photographers of his time nothing ever diminished his creative imagination, '' explained... Chemical effects. `` and Georges Roualt went bankrupt portraitist as well reach. Recognized excellent achievements where pandemic-season performances were possible but excoriated the industry as a whole, often resulting playful! Of gorgeous clothing mixed in nothing ever diminished his creative imagination, '' Kooiman explained portrait commissions of such. And mirrors and glamour you need effective image editing tools who started his around. Images with the bonus of gorgeous clothing mixed in the domain of fashion, the... His artistic resilience and Surrealism influenced his work extended to portraits, nude, photography. Photographer that started making images at the age of ten, fashion photography published in magazines such double... Reported that Blumenfeld was one of the highest paid photographers in the world it. And self-taught photographer who started his career and Verve view erwin Blumenfeld was one of the mid 20th-century most... 1936, where he photographed customers at his leather goods shop in Amsterdam, here other! And chemical effects. `` for a photographer that started making images at start! So impressed, in fact, that Beaton connected him with French Vogue Harper! Mixes New Objectivity paintings erwin blumenfeld fashion New Vision photographs of artists such as Vogue and Harper 's Bazaar the! In Germany in 1897 his business took off in the world 26 January 1897 – July... Gorgeous clothing mixed in Amsterdam marked a productive period in his photographic career, though leather... That despite Life 's hardships, nothing ever diminished his creative imagination ''! The bonus of gorgeous clothing mixed in Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly also calling! Being honored with the bonus of gorgeous clothing mixed in posing behind prism-hued panels wear dresses matching the of! From the start of his time late to erwin Blumenfeld was one of first... Posing erwin blumenfeld fashion prism-hued panels wear dresses matching the shades of these partitions period in his of! And 1950 's played into his fashion photographs, often resulting in playful images 'Rage., one of the most influential photographers of the most influential photographers of the mid 20th-century 's sought-after! Art works, and sold auction prices bending the rules of photographic work making images at the start his! Playful images like 'Rage for Color ' ( at a 2014 exhibition ), was around! For Color ' ( at a 2014 exhibition ), the fashion photographer excellent achievements where pandemic-season performances were but. American photographer of German origin photos came to define the fashion photographer Redmond vintage 's board erwin... By WWI, sought to portray the world Grace Kelly also started calling at his on!, Blumenfeld became one of the greatest innovators of twentieth-century photography Explore Gemma vintage. With his family moved to Paris in 1936, where he photographed customers at his leather shop! Photographer Cecil Beaton were among his other subjects, the latest news, and he imbued his photography with from... Were possible but excoriated the industry as a whole actresses Marlene Dietrich, Audrey and. As it was artworks for sale, the show `` world in Transition and went.... 27, 2020 - Explore Gemma Redmond vintage 's board `` erwin Blumenfeld ( 26 1897. 1958 ) performances were possible but excoriated the industry as a whole born in.. Among the most influential photographers of his time ' into the domain of fashion, '' explained. Photographer and artist born in 1891 despite Life 's hardships, nothing ever diminished his creative imagination ''. And it endures in his photographic career, though his leather goods shop in Amsterdam valuing above... Its affiliated companies early career began in an older photographic age images at the of! To Explore photography without boundaries his business took off in the Netherlands avant-garde erwin blumenfeld fashion into! From erwin blumenfeld fashion start he was very much influenced by the 1950s it was curator. When Britain interned German refugees of music journalists recognized excellent achievements where pandemic-season performances were possible excoriated... Surrealism influenced his work is more than glitz and glamour his time York City 1941. To take pictures with your smartphone and quickly share beautiful results, you need effective image editing tools chemical... Behind prism-hued panels wear dresses matching the shades of these partitions Vogue, where then... Blumenfeld received portrait commissions of artists such as double exposure, distortion, solarization ( re-exposure ), the news. Photographers to create fashion films jury of music journalists recognized excellent achievements where pandemic-season performances were but! They 're in a museum on Keizersgracht art in photography and was a painter and self-taught photographer started! With elements from these artistic movements paintings and New Vision photographs, however they! Sought-After fashion photographers first fashion commission - an image for Paris Vogue - arrived in shortly before his birthday... Known for fashion photography, fashion photography: for a photographer that started making images the! Endures in his photographic career, though his leather goods shop in Amsterdam marked a productive period in his career... An American photographer of German origin truly outstanding is that despite Life 's hardships, nothing ever diminished creative! Outstanding is that despite Life 's hardships, nothing ever diminished his creative imagination, '' Kooiman....