Periodically an artist comes along so radical that he or she moves their entire field forward by leaps and bounds. Louise Dahl-Wolfe did this for fashion photography.
Known for her use of natural lighting and outdoor shooting locations, Dahl-Wolfe was a true pioneer in the fashion photography world. She developed her unique style during her two-decade tenure at Harper’s Bazaar. She first came to prominence when she was discovered by Edward Steichen in 1937. Steichen helped get Dahl-Wolfe’s photography displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which catapulted her career to a new level of recognition. The fashion photographer’s modernist outlook influenced Richard Avedon, Horst P. Horst, and Irving Penn—changing American visual culture as most knew it.
A new monograph opens a window into the photographer’s career and confirms a body of work that measures up against other industry greats, like Steichen himself and Erwin Blumenfeld. Louise Dahl-Wolfe, published by the Aperture Foundation, spans her 30-year career, covering her mastery of fashion photography, portraiture, and nude photography.
The hardcover book features 134 of her black-and-white images, some of which are on display below. To purchase a copy for $51, click here.
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