Paolo Roversi

Paolo Roversi is an internationally renowned photographer known for his collaborations with numerous fashion magazines. Throughout his career, he has captured stars, models, and style icons.

Paolo Roversi's Photos: A Fusion of Fashion and Art

Paolo Roversi's fashion photography has captivated fans worldwide for decades, showcasing his unique ability to blend artistry with fashion. Known for his soft, monochromatic photographs of women, his work frequently showcases figures cloaked in shadow, captured with meticulous attention to highlight their striking facial features.

After his Christian Dior beauty campaign in 1980, he solidified his position as one of fashion's leading photographers, capturing icons like Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Natalia Vodyanova, and many more. He also created photoshoots with various actresses, including Golshifteh Farahani.

Paolo Roversi's portraits also include "Kate et Mario, Paris" (1992), "Helen, Paris" (1993), "Paris défilé. Bambino rue de la goutte d'Or" (1993), "Naomi" (1994), "Natalia. Paris" (2003), "Anna, Tokyo" (2016), "Xavier Dolan, Paris" (2016), and many more. 

Paolo Roversi's Biography: Exploring Artistic Legacy

The artist was born in 1947 in Italy. A spark ignited his passion for photography during a family trip to Spain in 1964 when he was just a teenager.

The young Roversi craved the magic of creating images himself. He teamed up with a fellow photography enthusiast, the local postman Battista Minguzzi, and together they transformed a convenient cellar into their own darkroom. There, he embarked on his artistic journey, developing and printing his black-and-white works, laying the foundation for his future success.

The focal point at the early stages of his career was an encounter with professional photographer Nevio Natali, whose studio became a formative environment for Roversi. Spending countless days there, the artist immersed himself in the craft, honing his skills.

1970 was a pivotal year for Paolo Roversi. He began his professional career collaborating with the Associated Press. This same year, he partnered with his friend Giancarlo Gramantieri to open their first portrait studio in Ravenna, where they captured portraits of local celebrities and their families.

A chance encounter in 1971 with Peter Knapp, the renowned Swiss fashion photographer and artistic director of Elle magazine, would forever change the artist's life. Knapp extended an invitation to Paris, which Roversi accepted in 1973, and he hasn't looked back since.

Paris offered Roversi a new start. Initially, he landed a reporting gig with the Huppert Agency. However, his true passion, fashion photography, began to beckon. Through his social circle, he gradually found opportunities to explore this genre. Interestingly, his initial inspiration came not from fashion photography giants, but rather from reporters. At that point, the world of high fashion and its photography were still unfamiliar territory for him. It wasn't until later that he explored the iconic works of Avedon, Penn, Newton, Bourdin, and others, further shaping his artistic vision.

Roversi's career has since blossomed to encompass celebrity and fashion photography. He has become a staple contributor to American Vogue, Vogue Italia, W, Vanity Fair, and others. His portfolio also includes iconic advertising campaigns for various brands.

The photographer has authored several monographs, including "Nudi," "Paolo Roversi: Libretto," and "Studio."

Solo exhibitions of Paolo Roversi's photos include those held at Palais Galliera in Paris (2024), Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna in Italy (2020), Dallas Contemporary in Texas (2020), Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles (2019), and many more. 

Paolo Roversi's Technique: Light and Shadow in Harmony

Roversi's film and printing techniques are varied and innovative, encompassing a range from gelatin silver and carbon to dye transfer prints, showcasing both technical prowess and aesthetic exploration.

He is renowned for his fashion photography primarily conducted in the studio, employing large-format cameras. He shoots his subjects using  8x10 Deardorff camera and Polaroids, including 8x10 Polaroid film. 

Paolo Roversi's lighting techniques and long exposure are features that unite all his works. He primarily uses HMI lights, Mag-Lite flashlights, and window lights. As the artist stated, the window light is his favorite. 

Paolo Roversi for sale

Paolo Roversi's works have been sold at various auctions around the world, with estimated prices ranging from several hundred to thousands of euros. For instance, a portrait of Natalia Vodianova (2003) was auctioned for 3,200 euros, and a portrait of Kate Moss for Harper's Bazaar (1994) fetched over 2,000 euros. Additionally, photography enthusiasts can purchase Paolo Roversi's books, such as his monograph "Nudi," which costs 180 euros.