He studied at the rigorous Askanisches Gymnasium in Berlin. “Photography is so easy a medium to use, the box camera, a roll of film, a snap – a picture! As such, this is the definitive collection of Blumenfeld's later colour work in New York, most of which was done for Vogue and for advertising clients. In Holland, Blumenfeld set up a small shop, where he discovered a fully equipped darkroom behind a boarded up door, left by the previous owner. From Il Ponte, Erwin Blumenfeld, Elongated nude New York, 1943 (1943/1989), Gelatin silver print, printed 1989. Erwin Blumenfeld was born in Berlin, Germany in 1897. Among the most successful photographers of the 20th century, Erwin Blumenfeld brought a radical, avant-garde vision to his work in portraiture, nudes, fashion, and advertising, effectively re-defining the potential of his medium. In New York, Blumenfeld went on to work for Harper’s Bazaar and American Vogue. Credit: Erwin Blumenfeld- ©The Estate of Erwin Blumenfeld. [1], Blumenfeld started working on Blumenfeld: Meine 100 Besten Fotos in 1955; it was eventually published in 1979; an English translation, Blumenfeld: My One Hundred Best Photos, was published in New York in 1981. The reproductions in this volume are outstanding, with every texture and detail … Another autobiographical work was published in German as Einbildungsroman by Eichborn Verlag [de] in 1998, and in English as Eye to I: The Autobiography of a Photographer by Thames and Hudson in 1999. Erwin Blumenfeld was a American-German photographer best known for his editorial photographs, experimental fine art works, and portraits of cultural icons. Among the most successful photographers of the 20th century, Erwin Blumenfeld brought a radical, avant-garde vision to his work in portraiture, nudes, fashion, and advertising, effectively re-defining the potential of his medium. Erwin Blumenfeld (1897-1969) was one of the most influential photographers of the twentieth century. Blumenfeld transformed both the models and their clothes into collage-like elements. [4]:143[3] He moved to Paris, where in 1936 he set up as a photographer[1] and did free-lance work for French Vogue. Blumenfeld once stated "I was nothing but a Berliner" in reference to the city as … [1], 10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T009382, 10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.B00021202, "Experiments in Advertising: The Films of Erwin Blumenfeld", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Erwin_Blumenfeld&oldid=951373195, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with RKDartists identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 16 April 2020, at 21:09. Blumenfeld died on the 4th of July 1969 after self-inducing a heart attack. See … [4]:143 In 1922 he started a leather goods shop, which failed in 1935. Still fresh and original, this body of work remains highly influential. An essential chapter in the history of 20th-century photography, of interest to both aficionados and scholars. Moreover, he made collages and drawing in Dada style. A pre-war visit to New York established his reputation, once he returned in 1941 he rapidly became one of the best known and most creative fashion photographers anywhere in the world, creating iconic images using ground … His model acquaintance returned every single piece of his work in 1947. [3] In 1918 he went to Amsterdam, where he came into contact with Paul Citroen and Georg Grosz. After serving as an ambulance driver … The official app of the exhibition “Erwin Blumenfeld (1897–1969). His work was published in the French magazine Photographie in 1935 and the first issue of Verve magazine in 1937. Photographs, Drawings and Photomontages,” held at the Jeu de Paume in Paris from 15 October 2013 to 16 January 2014. Artist: ERWIN BLUMENFELD; Print Title: Experiment; Medium: Color Photo-lithograph; Printing Date: 1980's; Printed in Spain; Image Size approx: 7.25 x 5.5 inches Erwin Blumenfeld was a German photographer and artist born in 1891. News Erwin Blumenfeld was a American-German photographer best known for his editorial photographs, experimental fine art works, and portraits of cultural icons. Considered as one of the most innovative and influential photographers of the 20th century, Erwin Blumenfeld made a significant contribution to the fashion industry between 1940’s and 1950’s. One must work hard to smuggle anything into a photograph other than record keeping.” His photographs were on the postwar pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Life and … [3] After the outbreak of the Second World War he was placed in an internment camp; in 1941 he was able to emigrate to the United States. A Dadaist collagist–turned-photographer, Erwin Blumenfeld began publishing his fashion shoots in the late 1930s. Erwin Blumenfeld: Fashion photography's surrealist innovator The German-Jewish Blumenfeld was one of the mid 20th-century's most sought-after fashion photographers. Among the most successful photographers of the 20th century, Erwin Blumenfeld brought a radical, avant-garde vision to his work in portraiture, nudes, fashion, and advertising, effectively re-defining the potential of his medium. Buys a house in the dunes on Westhampton beach … When Blumenfeld died, in 1969, his work was divided among his three children and his former assistant (and longtime mistress), Marina Schinz. Blumenfeld was given his first camera at the age of ten, as a gift from his uncle. Among the most successful photographers of the 20th century, Erwin Blumenfeld brought a radical, avant-garde vision to his work in portraiture, nudes, fashion, and advertising, effectively re-defining the potential of his medium. He was born in Berlin, and in 1941 emigrated to the United States, where he soon became a successful and well-paid fashion photographer, working as a free-lancer for Harper's Bazaar, Life and American Vogue. At the age of ten he received his first camera as a gift and he described this moment as when his "real life started." View Erwin Blumenfeld’s 445 artworks on artnet. He is best known for fashion photography published in magazines such as Vogue and … In return for his gramophone and all of his records, he asked her to keep his work safe. Born in Berlin, Blumenfeld began photographing at an early age, and in 1913, got an apprenticeship with Sclochauer and Moses. As a German in France, at the beginning of the war, he … KNACK Magazine is dedicated to showcasing the work of artists of all mediums, and to discuss trends and ideas of art communities. Your browser does not support JavaScript!. Your enquiry has been submitted! His highly stylistic fashion photography helped shape the look of the 1940s and 50s. Blumenfeld was hugely influenced by Man Ray, and began his own experiments in his darkroom, using techniques such as multiple exposures and solarisation. Erwin Blumenfeld was a German artist and photographer, best known for his contributions to the fashion industry between 1940s and 50s. Later, he garnered success as a … In 1921, Blumenfeld married Lena Citroën, and together with their new baby daughter, Lisette, moved to Zandvoort in Holland in 1923. Discover the life and work of Erwin Blumenfeld, a major photographer who exerted a considerable influence on the development of the … Photo: Erwin Blumenfeld Blumenfeld saw - and was influenced by - French art magazines of the time, where he saw the work of Man Ray and other photographers that inspired him to push further with his own … His highly stylistic fashion photography helped shape the look of the 1940s and 50s. Erwin Blumenfeld (26 January 1897 – 4 July 1969) was an American photographer of German origin. Please enter your email below and a member of our team will contact you with availability and pricing information for Erwin Blumenfeld. He did not take his heart medicine before repeatedly running up and down the Spanish steps in Rome. [1] In 1933 he made a photomontage showing Hitler as a skull with a swastika on its forehead; this image was later used in Allied propaganda material in 1943. In New York, Blumenfeld went on to work for Harper’s Bazaar and American Vogue. volgers Erwin Blumenfeld (1897 – 1969) is regarded as one of the most influential photographers of the twentieth century. But WWII radically changed his life and circumstances. He also employed fine art in photography and was a portraitist as well. His first double-page spread was in 1944, and featured his daughter Lisette’s legs. Welcome to Erwin Blumenfeld's website, one of the most influential photographers of the twentieth century. This exposure lead to an introduction to French Vogue by the legendary photographer, Cecil Beaton. His personal photographic work showed the influence of Dadaism and Surrealism; his two main areas of interest … [1] There he soon became a successful and well-paid fashion photographer, and worked as a free-lancer for Harper's Bazaar, Life and American Vogue. One of Blumenfeld’s most iconic images appeared in Vogue in 1939 – an unharnessed Lisa Fonssagrives, dress billowing, balancing atop the Eiffel Tower, Paris. Erwin Blumenfeld Erwin Blumenfeld (1897-1969) was one of the greatest innovators of twentieth-century photography. Erwin Blumenfeld (26 January 1897 – 4 July 1969) was an American photographer of German origin. Courtesy the Estate of Erwin Blumenfeld. His agent is Kathleen Levy Barnett, later to become his daughter-in-law. Blumenfeld began to experiment with collage, often combining his own photographs with magazine cuttings. German-born photographer Erwin Blumenfeld began his career in the Dadaist circles of Berlin and Paris in the 1930s. He was born in Berlin, and in 1941 emigrated to the United States, where he soon became a successful and well-paid fashion photographer, working as a free-lancer for Harper's Bazaar, Life and American Vogue. We will be in touch shortly. Erwin Blumenfeld (1897-1969) was one of the greatest innovators of twentieth-century photography. As London’s Hamiltons Gallery celebrates the work of Herb Ritts and his portraits of the original “Supers,” Paris unveils its ode to timeless imagery, too. [1], Blumenfeld died in Rome on 4 July 1969. An experimenter and innovator, he produced an extensive body of work throughout his thirty-five year career including black and white nudes, celebrity portraiture, advertising campaigns and his renowned … An experimenter and innovator, he produced an extensive body of work including drawings, collages, portraits and nudes, celebrity portraiture, advertising campaigns and his renowned fashion photography both in black and … He became involved with the German Dadaist circle after the First World War, after befriending George Grosz. His personal photographic work showed the influence of Dadaism and Surrealism; his two main areas of interest were death and women. An experimenter and innovator, he produced an extensive body of work throughout his career including black and white nudes, … © Erwin Blumenfeld Blumenfeld stops working for Vogue in 1955, he evolves towards advertising, and works for Helena Rubinstein, Elisabeth Arden, L’Oréal, The Dayton Company’s Oval room among many others. An experimenter and innovator, he produced an extensive body of work including drawings, collages, portraits, celebrity portraiture, advertising campaigns and his renowned fashion photography both in … At the outbreak of the Second World War, Blumenfeld happened to meet a model with whom he had previously worked. Erwin Blumenfeld was born in Berlin in 1897 to a middle-class Jewish family. [ view all available work ] Press [ close] Erwin BLUMENFELD Vogue Photographer Erwin Blumenfeld: Secrets of a Fashion Legend [original link] 2014-09-16 Erwin BLUMENFELD Erwin Blumenfeld's Studio [original link] 2014-09-16 Erwin BLUMENFELD Erwin Blumenfeld on view at Jeu de Paume 2013-10-17 Erwin BLUMENFELD Blumenfeld … Erwin Blumenfeld counts among the most successful photographers of the 20th century. He was expert in laboratory work, and experimented with photographic techniques such as distortion, multiple exposure, photo-montage and solarisation. From his early black and white nudes to his colourful and glossy fashion photography of the 1950s and 60s, he consistently pushed both stylistic and technical boundaries. One of his most dramatic and experimental fashion shots reduced his model Jean Patchett to a pair of lips, a beauty spot, and one single eye. Find an in-depth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Erwin Blumenfeld is considered to be one of the early pioneers of fashion photography alongside George Hoyningen-Heune, Cecil Beaton, and Horst P. Horst. From the beginning, Blumenfeld was intrigued by reflected images and fascinated by mirrors. [1][2], Blumenfeld was born in Berlin on 26 January 1897. His work was avant-garde, radical and the beauty he showed was stunning. On July 4, 1969, in searing heat, the celebrated fashion photographer Erwin Blumenfeld ran up and down the Spanish Steps in Rome in a successful bid—so his family believes—to kill himself. ... Erwin Blumenfeld, and Guy Bourdin inspire me immensely. The full title of this book is "Erwin Blumenfeld: Blumenfeld Studio, Color, New York, 1941-1960". Photography, the art, is so immensely difficult because it is so easy to get a picture of sorts. His first double-page spread was in 1944, and featured his daughter Lisette’s legs. Please enable javascript in your browser in order to get form work properly. Erwin Blumenfeld’s Experimental Portraiture, Erwin Blumenfeld’s ‘Nude in Broken Mirror’, Erwin Blumenfeld: Challenging Photographic Tradition, Erwin Blumenfeld’s Early Parisian Masterpiece. As a young man he worked in the clothes trade and wrote poetry. Please enter your email below and a member of our team will contact you with availability and pricing information for Erwin Blumenfeld. From his early black and white nudes to his colourful and glossy fashion photography of the 1950s and 60s, he consistently pushed both stylistic and technical boundaries. The Blumenfeld family (from left): Erwin, Yorick, Lena, Henry and Lisette in Long Island, New York, 1942. All works are available for purchase – please click on an image for further information. As a teenager he regularly experimented with photography. He began to photograph his customers and quickly became an active part of the Dutch art scene. He succeeded in June 1941, and set sail across the Atlantic. Often in both his independent and commissioned works, the artist combined black-and-white images with small areas of bright, vibrant color. [3], He married Lena Citroen, with whom he had three children, in 1921. It was used as the cover of Vogue in 1950, and is now considered one of the magazine’s most iconic covers. He started to exhibit his work in his shop as well as holding two solo shows with the art dealer Carel van Lier. The remarkable life and career of pioneering photographer Erwin Blumenfeld has been well documented. Blumenfeld was interned at several concentration camps during the Second World War. Step inside the world of Erwin Blumenfeld, one of fashion’s most prolific photographers from the post-war era, in a new exhibit that launches on March 3 at … On release, he concentrated all of his efforts on obtaining a visa to escape to America. With his earliest work for Vogue Paris, Erwin Blumenfeld introduced a style of artistry that would be copied by other photographers for decades. Erwin Blumenfeld (American/German, 1897–1969) was an influential photographer, best known for his work in the fashion industry in the 1940s and 1950s. His work extended to portraits, nude, fashion and advertising, and he set new standards of creativity and technique in everything. First World War, after befriending George Grosz the mid 20th-century 's most sought-after fashion photographers most. He went to Amsterdam, where he came into contact with Paul Citroen and Georg Grosz had previously worked used. 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