The Helmut Newton Foundation and Pinault Collection proudly present CHRONORAMA.
CHRONORAMA, Photographic Treasures of the 20th Century
- Press conference: Tuesday, 13 February 2024, 11 am
- Opening: Wednesday, 14 February 2024, 7 pm
- Duration: 15 February – 20 May 2024
CHRONORAMA at : Photographic Treasures of the 20th Century. Following its highly successful premiere at Palazzo Grassi in Venice, the collaborative project will be shown at the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin starting 15 February 2024. CHRONORAMA marks the latest partnership between the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin and leading international collections. In 2018, it hosted Between Art & Fashion, with 223 works by 85 photographers from the collection of Carla Sozzani, former editor-in-chief of the Italian Elle and Vogue.
Now, the Helmut Newton Foundation unveils François Pinault’s recently acquired collection of exceptional photographs, including portraits, fashion, still lifes, architecture, and photojournalism, as well as early illustrations from the legendary Condé Nast Archive.
Showcasing nearly 250 works created between 1910 and the late-1970s for Condé Nast’s style-defining magazines, this chronological presentation traces the evolution of the fashion industry against the backdrop of radical changes in western culture, spanning subjects from the sophisticated to the sublime.
Naturally, Helmut Newton’s works are also part of this remarkable collection, as he contributed extensively to Condé Nast magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair from the 1950s onward. Most of Newton’s fashion photographs featured in this show have not been previously exhibited in Berlin.
Furthermore, the exhibition brings together an impressive array of Helmut Newton’s contemporaries and predecessors, including trailblazing photographers like Diane Arbus, Cecil Beaton, David Bailey, John Deakin, Robert Frank, Evelyn Hofer, Horst P. Horst, Peter Hujar, William Klein, Lisette Model, Ugo Mulas, Irving Penn, Bert Stern, Deborah Turbeville, and Chris von Wangenheim.
The presence of luminaries like Horst P. Horst, Peter Hujar, and William Klein further underscores the diverse perspectives within the realm of photography. Their distinct styles, ranging from classic elegance to avant-garde experimentation, demonstrate the dynamic nature of the medium.
Lisette Model, recognized for her street photography and psychological insights, Ugo Mulas, an influential figure in Italian photography, and Irving Penn, celebrated for his meticulous studio work, contributed to the comprehensive exploration of the art form’s evolution.
Bert Stern’s innovative approaches to commercial photography, Deborah Turbeville’s dreamlike and atmospheric fashion images, and Chris von Wangenheim’s boundary-pushing fashion editorials serve as a testament to the ever-changing landscape of fashion photography.
In bringing together these remarkable artists, the exhibition not only celebrates the legacy of Helmut Newton but also highlights the interconnectedness and influence that each photographer has had on the medium. Visitors are treated to a visual feast that spans decades and genres, providing a unique opportunity to appreciate the nuances and diversity of photographic expression.
CHRONORAMA comprises a breathtaking compendium of valuable vintage prints, many of which served as the basis for high-quality images in the magazines of their time.
These photographic treasures transport today’s viewers through the history of the 20th century, offering insight into fashion staging and the evolving interpretation of fashion trends as well as culture, lifestyle, and world events. Organized by decade, the immersive tour begins in 1910, one year after Condé Nast acquired Vogue magazine, transforming it into a leading platform for fashion, style, and beauty. In those early days, photographs were still relatively rare, so abundant drawings by renowned fashion illustrators of the era also adorn the exhibition walls. Unlike the photography back then, the illustrations gracing the magazine’s pages and covers were in color – an important selling point for Condé Nast and its magazines. The dynamics between the two mediums underwent a seismic shift as photography rose to prominence in the ensuing decade in Vogue and Vanity Fair and other leading publications. Black-and-white photography long remained the standard, so the earliest color image on display dates to 1952, shot by Irving Penn, who also created over 100 Vogue covers.
Besides fashion, CHRONORAMA places people at the heart of its captivating chronicle, with numerous portraits of luminaries from the realms of music, art, sports, and politics – a veritable Who’s Who of the 20th century’s most celebrated figures.
The exhibition also surveys lavish interiors, beauty salons, artistic still lifes, photographic experiments, and examples of journalistic photography, capturing war-torn London and the newly erected Empire State Building in New York. All these facets were published concurrently across Condé Nast’s magazines – and now this extraordinary treasure trove of images awaits discovery in Berlin.
The exhibition, produced and presented at Pinault Collection – Palazzo Grassi (Venice) in 2023, is now shown at the Helmut Newton Foundation under the joint curatorship of Matthieu Humery, Advisor for photography at Pinault Collection and Matthias Harder, Director of the foundation.
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