Erwin Blumenfeld: The whole picture

published 29 September 2016

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Erwin Blumenfeld is remembered foremost for his experimental fashion photography, which graced the covers of both Vogue and Harper's Bazaar in the mid-20th century. Opening on 5 October at the Osborne Samuel Gallery, in London's West End, Erwin Blumenfeld: From Dada to Vogue will bring together rare examples of his early images, including many never before displayed in the UK.

Examining his avant-garde roots, the exhibition follows the German photographer's career, from the Dadaist collages he created in Amsterdam during the 1920s to his introduction to the world of fashion in Paris, where his work caught the eye of Cecil Beaton. The images demonstrate how Blumenfeld pushed the limitations of the genre by using pioneering techniques such as double exposure and photomontage and showcase his output in an array of media, including black-and-white silver gelatin prints, solarised portraits and drawings. Together with a collection of his personal ephemera, it paints a picture of the progression of this remarkable artist.

"It's not possible to express in just a few words the importance of Erwin Blumenfeld's work, let alone its stand-alone beauty and resounding influence on today's image-makers," says curator Lou Proud. "It's fascinating how someone who did everything possible to stretch, bend and break the existing boundaries of traditional photography managed to create works that reach far beyond what we could ever dream the medium would and could deliver."