Peter Knapp — Quand la photographie de mode devient Art — Berthet – Aittouarès Gallery — Exhibition — Slash Paris

Past: November 2 → 19, 2017

The adventure begins with Hélène Lazareff in 1959.

She returns from New York to take over the new magazine « Femina ». Peter Knapp is only 28 years old when she offers him the artistic direction of « Elle » Magazine. A complete artist : painter, graphic designer, scenographer, filmmaker and photographer. When he is not behind his camera, he involves famous name of photography, from Jeanloup Sieff to Sarah Moon. His style is caracterized by a great graphic rigor, a heritage of Bahaus taught during his art studies in Zurich. The line dominates.

Peter Knapp, Dim,Dam, Dom, 1969 Photographie Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Berthet — Aittouarès, Paris

As a matter of fact, he pronounces the word photographic in two parts, Photo & Graphic. In his work, he proceeds to a simplification, suppresses perspectivity, volume. He says : In fact, I always begin from a simple thing to end with less.

We chose to show the first fashion shots from 1960 to 1980. From the geometric black and white of the Courrèges (1965) period to the colorfull scenographies of Montana (1978).

Peter Knapp, Courèges, 1965 Photographie

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“At times, fashion and models become secondary, the essential being the pictorial research”.

Peter Knapp