Last admission 1 hour before closing time 30 minutes before closing time for the exhibitions free of charge. One hundred and six images, illustrating more than sixty years in the career of one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century. On the one hand, he revolutionized the way models are photographed, turning them into actresses who were the main focus of a set, instead of static subjects, and showing their human side, while on the other hand his amazing, and often large-format, black and white portraits of celebrities reveal the more psychological side of the sitters.
Avedon's work for Versace shows how the unique relationship that is sometimes created between a designer and a photographer can produce images that occupy a timeless dimension, going way beyond the confines of the specific context linked to the seasonal nature of fashion that they were originally intended for, and revolutionizing its global narration. The fashion photos can be grouped into two main periods. His early shots, created before , were taken on location, and featured models acting a part to create a specific narrative.
By contrast, his later works focus exclusively on the model and the clothes she is wearing. In these images, Avedon often uses a minimalist, uniform background, and more often than not depicts the subject in dynamic poses, using the fluid forms of the body to reveal the construction, fabric and movement of the clothes.
The first fashion photos taken by Avedon prior to depict much more than clothes. These cinematographic images encourage the viewer to create a story, to construct an imaginary plot.
In both cases, Avedon makes the viewer feel that they are witnessing a multi-faceted story about a life of ease and pleasure, which the public could also experience, if only they had the right clothes.
