Fashion photography is in vogue
Museums and collectors now want what were once panned as commercial images for their walls
ELTON JOHN had just finished a stint in rehab. Without the fog induced by drink and drugs, he found he was able to look at the world with “clear eyes”. So when David Fahey, a gallerist, showed him work by three fashion photographers—Horst P. Horst, Irving Penn and Herb Ritts—the musician was transfixed. It marked the start of what would become one of the world’s largest private photography collections. More than 30 years later, Sir Elton has amassed more than 7,000 images.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Very in vogue”
Discover more
In the second world war, some diplomacy was done between the sheets
Pamela Churchill Harriman, daughter-in-law of the prime minister, ran an effective charm offensive
Why the world is so animated about anime
Japan’s cartoons have conquered its screens, and more
How a second nuclear disaster was avoided at Chernobyl in 2022
The Russian occupation underscored the risks posed by nuclear sites in wartime
Han Kang wins the Nobel prize in literature for 2024
The South Korean author offers another example of the country’s cultural clout
How complicated is brain surgery actually?
A doctor reveals the myths and realities of his profession
Why you should read Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
The Senegalese novelist is one of the boldest writers working today