Richard Avedon is a virtuoso of a photo portrait, trusted by the stars
The name of the photographer Richard Avedon is familiar to both professionals of the photography department and everyone who is seriously interested in this art. But the pictures of the guru of portrait photography, depicting the most famous people of the XX century, were probably seen even by those who are far from photography. Let's remember the brilliant Master and once again enjoy his most famous works.
Richard Avedon was born on May 15, 1923 in New York City in a family of Russian immigrants. Richard's father owned a department store located on prestigious Fifth Avenue and was considered a very successful businessman. The younger Avedon was also predicted to have a career as a merchant, but the boy was more interested in drawing and photography than finance from childhood. Richard's parents' house was visited by many famous personalities from the world of art, so the child from a young age saw talented artists, musicians and poets, mainly from the Russian diaspora.
Avedon's first photographic work was a portrait of the composer Rachmaninov. His young photographer made it when he was only 10 years old. After that, Brodsky, Stravinsky, Horowitz and many others fell into the frame of Richard. The first model for a female portrait was her own younger sister. Already in adulthood, the photographer said that it was thanks to her that he "forever fell into the power of female charm" and was able to capture so many amazing images of beautiful ladies.
"A talented person is talented in everything" - this statement fits Richard Avedon perfectly. In addition to photography, the master was fond of literature, and especially poetry. Already in his school years, the first stories of the young author were published in a local literary almanac, and in 1941 the young talent became the winner of the poets' competition. But, despite his success in the literary field, portrait photography became Avendon's life's work.
Richard's first publications appeared in 1946 in the popular fashion magazine "Harpers Bazaar" in the USA, where he was invited to work by the editor of the publication, the famous designer Alexey Brodovich. Avedon's works immediately became popular in the United States, and then in other countries. Critics claimed that there is a soul in his photographs, which is so lacking for many other artists who thoroughly own technology and light.
The master's works organically combined the grotesque with naturalism, which made the strongest impression on the viewer. The demand for Avedon's artistic portraits was huge. In addition to Harpers Bazaar, Vogue collaborated with the photographer, as well as several lesser-known fashion publications.
Richard Avedon can be rightfully considered the creator of a new genre. The photographer skillfully combined fashion photography with scenes from real life, which made the pictures as lively and interesting as possible. A classic of the new trend can be considered a portrait of the famous model Davima in a dress by Yves Saint Laurent, among African elephants.
A whole layer of the photographer's works is associated with the era of the Beatles, hippies and the Vietnam War. In the 60s and 70s, Richard's lens caught not only models and stars, but also soldiers, students, informal youth, ordinary passers-by. The famous photo album "Avedon: The Sixties" has a clear anti-war orientation and shows the photographer's obvious sympathy for the rebellious youth.
In 1992, Avedon began working at The New Yorker, taking amazing pictures on the topic of the day, revealing the problems of modern humanity. The already middle-aged photographer actively travels and works tirelessly, as if fearing not to have time to fulfill his great earthly mission to the end. At the age of 82, Richard Avedon dies of a brain hemorrhage. The master worked until the last days, almost without letting go of the camera.
We can confidently say that Richard Avedon is a cult figure in the art of the XX century. Each of his works is a page of history, which is preserved for posterity by an attentive and skillful chronicler.