Lindbergh is the first photographer to include a narrative in his fashion series, his storytelling brought a new vision of art and fashion photography. British journalist Suzy Menkes points out that the German photographer is: “Refusing to bow to glossy perfection is Peter Lindbergh’s trademark – the essence of the images that look into each person’s unvarnished soul, however familiar or famous the sitter.” He offered a new interpretation of women post-1980’s without paying too much attention to the clothes, considering that: “If you take out the fashion and the artifice, you can then see the real person.” Lindbergh says. He explains: “This should be the responsibility of photographers today to free women, and finally everyone, from the terror of youth and perfection.” His singular vision, presents them in their pure state, “in all honesty”, avoiding all stereotypes as he privileges a face with hardly any make-up, in a baring that enhances the authenticity and the natural beauty of his women. He changed drastically the standards of the fashion photography in times of excessive retouching considering that there is something else that makes a person interesting, beyond their age. His humanist approach and idealisation of women sets him apart from the other photographers as he privileges the soul and the personality. Becoming well known in his native country, he joined the Stern magazine family along with –photography legends Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin and Hans Feurer, and moved to Paris in 1978 to pursue his career.Ĭonsidered a pioneer in photography, he introduced a form of new realism by redefining the standards of beauty with timeless images. After moving to Düsseldorf in 1971, he turned his attention to photography and worked for two years assisting German photographer Hans Lux, before opening his own studio in 1973.

Influenced by Joseph Kosuth and the Conceptual movement, he is invited before graduating to present his work at the renowned avant-garde Galerie Denise René – Hans Mayer in 1969. He later studied free painting at the College of Art in Krefeld. Inspired by the work of the Dutch painter, he moved to Arles for almost a year, and then embarked a journey hitchhiking through Spain and North Africa.

He remembers these years: “I preferred actively seeking out van Gogh’s inspirations, my idol, rather than painting the mandatory portraits and landscapes taught in Art schools…”.

He worked as a window dresser for a local department store and enrolled the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts in the early 1960’s.

Born in Lissa (Germany) in 1944, he spent his childhood in Duisburg (North Rhine-Westphalia). Known for his memorable cinematic images, Peter Lindbergh is recognised as one of the most influential contemporary photographers.

Peter lindbergh