Frank Horvat: The Photographer Who Revitalized Fashion and Tamed the Street

French photographer Frank Horvat is a man of many talents. Over 75 years of his career, he has established himself as a great portraitist, reportage photographer, street photographer, and even a conceptualist. Horvat was one of the first to use a journalistic approach in fashion photography, which is practiced today by hundreds of famous masters. Frank Horvat's contribution to art cannot be overestimated, and he is rightfully considered one of the best photographers of the 20th century.

Frank Horvat was born on April 28, 1928, in Opatija, Croatia, to Jewish immigrants from Central Europe. At the time, Croatia was part of Italy, and when Mussolini's regime came to power, Frank and his parents moved to Switzerland. He began taking photographs at age 15, trading his stamp collection for a used Retinamat camera.

Already in his mature years, the master half-jokingly commented on this exchange:

Frank had to learn the intricacies of photography on his own. To improve the composition, he cut the pictures with scissors and then pasted them into stamp albums. The only person with a camera who could give the teenager some advice was a street photographer who took photos for documents.

Despite everything, Horvat learned to take good pictures. In 1947, he moved to Milan and entered the Brera Academy of Art. While still a student, Frank began working in an advertising agency, and then began shooting for Life magazine as a freelancer. Horvat considered the great Henri Cartier-Bresson his teacher, whose influence is clearly visible in his early works.

In 1951, Frank Horvat moved to Paris and was able to meet his idol in person. Cartier-Bresson harshly criticized Horvat's work, giving him some invaluable advice. From that moment on, he considered Horvat his student. On the advice of the master, Frank swapped his old camera for a new Leica and set off on a two-year journey through Asia.

The photos taken on this creative trip became Horvat's first serious success. They took part in prestigious exhibitions and won several prizes in competitions. After his arrival, the photographer mastered fashion photography, using an original approach in his work. He photographed models on the streets, in doorways and markets - everywhere except studios.

Since the early 60s, Frank Horvat has been moving between Paris and New York. It was then that he took his best pictures, which feature stars of the worlds of fashion, cinema, politics and sports, as well as ordinary people and even prostitutes. The photographer also took many wonderful colorful cityscapes and hundreds of interesting street scenes.

In the early 80s, Horvat began to have problems with his eyesight. He put down his camera for a while, but did not leave the world of photography. He made a name for himself as a talented journalist, interviewing famous 20th century photographers: Helmut Newton, Josef Koudelka, Robert Doisneau. In the late 80s, Horvat continued to photograph and did not stop until his death.

Frank Horvat passed away at the age of 92. He photographed, organized master classes and kept diaries until his last days. Unable to walk, the master left home in a wheelchair and still took pictures. Horvat is considered a classic of 20th-century photography. During his life, he held more than 40 personal photo exhibitions and published 20 books.

Frank Horvat left behind a huge legacy that changed the world of photography. His works continue to inspire both professionals and amateurs. What do you consider the most important thing in a good photo — technique, emotion, or something else? Share your opinions in the comments!