Glamour, art, fashion intersect in these photos
The late Horst P. Horst was a giant in the world of American fashion and portrait photography – an artist who used his lens to capture not only the greatest celebrities, diplomats and power players of his time, but also their homes and the way they lived for the pages of Vogue and other outlets.
Starting Wednesday, 14 of Horst’s images from Vogue – most never publicly exhibited – will be on display at SOCO Gallery in Myers Park. It’s a show that gallery owner Chandra Johnson orchestrated after meeting Ivan Shaw, former director of photography for Vogue and current corporate photography director for Conde Nast Art & Archive Development.
Shaw will greet guests during the exhibition’s opening from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and will sign copies of his just-released book: “Around that Time, Horst at Home in Vogue” (Abrams, $75, available at the gallery or by emailing info@socogallery.com). A second special guest, Horst estate owner Gert Elfering, will also greet guests Wednesday.
Horst lived from 1906 to 1999 and photographed for the pages of Vogue the lives and homes of celebrities like Yves Saint Laurent, Emilio Pucci, Cy Twombly and Diane von Furstenberg.
“It’s such a beautiful portrayal of fashion and these celebrities and their home lives,” says Johnson. “With Horst being the incredible fashion photographer that he was, to have these images come to Charlotte is so special.”
Johnson says her favorite image on display is a 1963 image of the late writer and fashion designer Pauline de Rothschild, which shows de Rothschild peeking into her bedroom with its ornate walls, French chairs and parquet floors.
“I’ve always liked that image,” Johnson says. “It served as an inspiration for my bedroom and my closet years ago.”
Johnson says viewers learn not only about Horst’s work but catch a glimpse of the essence of society, politics, art and fashion during his time.
“There’s something about the way he captured people. They felt at ease. He would come and live with these people for weeks and photograph them,” she says. “He immersed himself in their lives. He wouldn’t even move a chair.”
The exhibit runs through Oct. 26. Information: http://www.soco-gallery.com/
This story was originally published October 11, 2016 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Glamour, art, fashion intersect in these photos."