On June 17, the Foam Musuem will present a major new exhibition of German photographer Helmut Newton’s work. The exhibition will span the museum’s entire building on Amsterdam’s Keizersgracht canal, and will featuring over 200 photographs. The images will range from Newton’s early work — shot in Australia after leaving Germany during the Second World War — as well as his era defining commissions for French Vogue inthe 60s and 70s. The images will be accompanied by a screening of Helmut by June, a film his wife made of him 1995, as well as never before seen and rarely exhibited works.
Responsible for one of photography’s most distinctive styles, Newton’s dynamic body of work ranged from combative, erotic nudes, to portraits of film stars and politicians — as well as defining images French fashion designers like Yves Saint Laurent and their remarkable creations. He’s famed for the sense of sexual freedom and rebelliousness that defined the way he shot women. Helmut used photography to challenge conventional gender roles and stereotypes with his models’ powerful poses. The striking black and white palette he captured his subjects in — and the influence of Surrealist art movement on his composition and mise en scene — add up to make one of the most stunning and unique bodies of work in photography. These sensibilities made Helmut one of the most successful and influential photographers to have ever shot.
Helmut Newton – A Retrospective runs from June 17 – September 4, 2016