Peter Lindbergh

Peter Lindbergh's iconic photographs of women are deeply influenced by early narrative cinema and street photography, evident in their fleeting observations and elegant compositions. When working on editorials for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Interview, and numerous other international magazines, Lindbergh eschews staged, calculated glamour in favor of a vérité approach.

Biography of Peter Lindbergh

Born in Leszno, Poland, as Peter Brodbeck, Lindbergh was raised in Duisburg. Before he enrolled at the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts in the early 1960s, he worked as a window dresser in a local department store. 

Rather than painting the usual themes like portraits and landscapes taught in art schools, Lindbergh actively sought out inspiration from van Gogh's work. Motivated by the Dutch master, Lindbergh spent nearly a year in Arles before embarking on a journey hitchhiking through North Africa and Spain. Influenced by Joseph Kosuth and the Conceptual movement, he studied free painting at the College of Art in Krefeld. Before his graduation, Lindbergh was invited to showcase his work at the renowned avant-garde Galerie Denise René - Hans Mayer.

Transitioning to photography after moving to Düsseldorf in 1971, Lindbergh spent two years as an assistant to German photographer Hans Lux. In 1973, he opened his own studio. Over time, Lindbergh gained recognition in his homeland and joined Stern alongside other photographers like Guy Bourdin, Helmut Newton, and Hans Feurer.

In 1988, while working on a story for American Vogue, Lindbergh created an iconic photograph featuring Estelle Lefébure, Karen Alexander, Rachel Williams, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, and Christy Turlington. However, the magazine's editor at the time was unimpressed. Fortunately for Lindbergh, that editor was swiftly replaced, and Anna Wintour took over, immediately selecting Lindbergh to shoot her inaugural cover.  

The chosen model for this cover was Michaela Bercu, an Israeli model, and Lindbergh's portrayal of her marked a notable shift in Vogue and the fashion industry. Bercu is depicted laughing, with her eyes squinting in the sun. If she wears any makeup, it's kept to a minimum. Her midriff, exposed beneath a jeweled Christian Lacroix top, contrasts with her casual jeans.

During the 1990s, Lindbergh gained international acclaim for launching the careers of the "Supermodels" — Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, Stephanie Seymour, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista. His images became a tribute to the new modern women of that era.

Lindbergh's solo exhibition, "A Different View on Fashion Photography," showcased at Kunsthal Rotterdam from 2016 to 2017, shares its title with his book. This book delves into the story of a new era in fashion and an evolving understanding of female beauty. 

The artist's work has been showcased in solo and group exhibitions worldwide, encompassing notable venues such as the "Images of Women" exhibition at the Bunkamura Museum of Art, Tokyo (1996); "Stories Supermodels" at Ludwiggalerie Schloss Oberhausen, Germany (2003); "Visioni" at FORMA Centro Internazionale di Fotografia, Milan, Italy (2006); "Beauduc "at Les Rencontres d’Arles, France (2008); "The Unknown" at Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing (2011), and many more.

Peter Lindbergh passed away in 2019 at the age of 74.

Peter Lindbergh's Art Style

Lindbergh's photographic approach is undeniably personal, focusing on his subjects' eyes, their energy, and the way women come alive under his lens. This pursuit of beauty beyond the superficial sets his work apart. Lindbergh's work is distinguished by a simple truth — he rejects any singular standard of beauty.

Lindbergh's impact on the emergence of the supermodel era is widely acknowledged. However, his contributions go far beyond that, fundamentally shaping the evolution of photography itself. He redefined beauty standards with his timeless images, ushering in a new form of realism. By centering on the soul and personality of his subjects, he employed a humanist approach that distinguishes him from other Vogue photographers. His decision to forgo retouching techniques when they were commonplace is nearly unthinkable, yet it adds an intriguing depth to his models, something that transcends age.

Notably, Peter Lindbergh was a trailblazer in including narrative elements in his series, introducing a fresh vision that enriched both art and fashion photography.