This evening I visited Jeu de Paume in Paris for the first time, to attend the opening of Erwin Blumenfeld: Photographs, Drawings and Photomontages, an exhibition of over 300 colour and black and white works from experimental editorials and advertising campaigns to numerous magazine covers by one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century.
The modern art gallery is showcasing Blumenfeld's work from the 1910s to the 1960s and provides the social and political context of the German Jewish artist's work between the two world wars, from his self-imposed exile to the Netherlands in 1919, moving to Paris in 1936 before being surviving internships at French prisoner-of-war camps and escaping with his family to the USA in 1941. What a life story (he penned an autobiography which was published post-humously and I'm sure is quite the read).
In 1938 he befriended the wonderful British photographer Cecil Beaton who introduced him to, and helped him get a contract with, French Vogue before working with Harper's Bazaar in NYC where his career as a highly sought-after fashion photographer really took off. To date, Blumenfeld's photographs have appeared on more Vogue covers than any other photographer - my favourite being this iconic Vogue cover from 1950 - and the exhibition is filled with beautiful highlights from his impressive career. Here are my favourites.
,+1946.jpg)
Erwin Blumenfeld: 15 October 2013 - 26 January 2014
The modern art gallery is showcasing Blumenfeld's work from the 1910s to the 1960s and provides the social and political context of the German Jewish artist's work between the two world wars, from his self-imposed exile to the Netherlands in 1919, moving to Paris in 1936 before being surviving internships at French prisoner-of-war camps and escaping with his family to the USA in 1941. What a life story (he penned an autobiography which was published post-humously and I'm sure is quite the read).
Audrey Hepburn
In 1938 he befriended the wonderful British photographer Cecil Beaton who introduced him to, and helped him get a contract with, French Vogue before working with Harper's Bazaar in NYC where his career as a highly sought-after fashion photographer really took off. To date, Blumenfeld's photographs have appeared on more Vogue covers than any other photographer - my favourite being this iconic Vogue cover from 1950 - and the exhibition is filled with beautiful highlights from his impressive career. Here are my favourites.
Lisa Fonssagrives on the Eiffel Tower, 1939
,+1946.jpg)
Erwin Blumenfeld untitled (Green dress), 1946
Erwin Blumenfeld: 15 October 2013 - 26 January 2014
Jeu de Paume, Concorde
