Horst P. Horst
Mainbocher Corset, Paris, 1939
Gelatin silver print
“Lighting is more complex than one thinks. There appears to be only one source of light. But there were actually reflectors and other spotlights.”
Horst P. Horst (1906 – 1999) was a German-American fashion photographer best known for his elaborate, sophisticated tableau shots and glamour model photography. His work was vibrant and sensual, and he is considered by many to be a master of light, composition and atmospheric illusion. Working for Vogue from 1931 onwards, he moved to New York in 1937 where he engaged in a thirty-year collaboration with Coco Chanel. He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and the Master of Photography Award from the International Center of Photography.