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Helmut Newton: Work
The man who loved An overview of Newton's provocative, groundbreaking photography that has inspired an entire genre The world of Helmut Newton is extremely complex and diverse. Considered shocking and provocative back in the 60s, by the climax of his career he enjoyed the reputation of a photographer who was able to imagine and visualize his subjects as women who take the lead rather than follow it; women who enjoy the resplendence and vitality of their bodies; women who are both responsible and willing. This book presents a whole spectrum of Newton’s work and celebrates the long career of this outstanding and prolific photographer. Text in English, French, and German
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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About the author
Helmut Newton
101 books51 followersHelmut Newton, born Helmut Neustädter was a German-Australian fashion photographer noted for his nude studies of women.
Born to a German-Jewish button-factory owner and an American mother, Newton attended the Heinrich-von-Treitschke-Realgymnasium and the American School in Berlin. Interested in photography from the age of twelve when he purchased his first camera, he worked for the German photographer Yva (Else Neulander Simon) from 1936. The increasingly oppressive restrictions placed on Jews by the Nuremberg laws meant that his father lost control of the factory in which he manufactured buttons and buckles; he was even briefly interned in a concentration camp. ‘Kristallnacht’ on 9 November 1938 compelled the family to leave Germany.
Newton's parents fled to Chile. He was issued with a passport just after turning 18, and left Germany on 5 December 1938. At Trieste he boarded the 'Conte Rosso' (along with about two hundred others escaping the Nazis) intending to journey to China. After arriving in Singapore, Newton was interned by British authorities and was sent to Australia on board the 'Queen Mary'. Internees travelled to the camp of Tatura, Victoria by train under armed guard. He was released from internment in 1942, and briefly worked as a fruit-picker in northern Victoria. In April 1942, he enlisted with the Australian Army and worked as a truck driver. After the war, in 1945 he became an Australian citizen, and changed his name to Newton in 1946. In 1948 he married actress June Browne.She later became a successful photographer known as Alice Springs.
In 1946, Newton set up a studio in fashionable Flinders Lane and worked primarily on fashion photography in the affluent post-war years. He shared his first joint exhibition in May 1953 with Wolfgang Sievers, a German refugee like himself who had also served in the same Company. The exhibition of ‘New Visions in Photography’ was held at the Federal Hotel in Collins Street and was probably the first glimpse of 'New Objectivity' photography in Australia. Newton went into partnership with Henry Talbot, a fellow German Jew who had also been interned at Tatura.
Newton's growing reputation as a fashion photographer was rewarded when he secured a commission to illustrate fashions in a special Australian supplement for Vogue magazine, published in January 1956. He won a twelve-month contract with British Vogue and he left for London in February 1957. He left the magazine before the end of his contract and went to Paris where he worked for French and German magazines. He returned to Melbourne in March 1959 to a contract for Australian Vogue.
He settled in Paris in 1961 and continued work as a fashion photographer. His works appeared in magazines including, most significantly, French Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. He established a particular style marked by erotic, stylised scenes, often with sado-masochistic and fetishistic subtexts. A heart attack in 1970 slowed his output somewhat but he extended his work and his notoriety/fame greatly increased, notably with his 1980 "Big Nudes" series which marked the pinnacle of his erotic-urban style, underpinned with excellent technical skills. He also worked in portraiture and more fantastical studies.
Newton was extremely fond of his hometown of Berlin, and in October 2003 he donated an extensive photo collection to the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, establishing the Helmut Newton Foundation. The foundation’s aim is the conservation, protection and presentation of the oeuvre of Helmut Newton and Alice Springs.
In his later life, Newton lived in Monte Carlo and Los Angeles. He was killed when his car hit a wall in the driveway of the famous Chateau Marmont, the hotel on Sunset Boulevard which had for several years served as his residence in Southern California. It has been speculated that Newton suffered a heart attack in the moments before the collision. His ashes are buried next to Marlene Dietrich at
Born to a German-Jewish button-factory owner and an American mother, Newton attended the Heinrich-von-Treitschke-Realgymnasium and the American School in Berlin. Interested in photography from the age of twelve when he purchased his first camera, he worked for the German photographer Yva (Else Neulander Simon) from 1936. The increasingly oppressive restrictions placed on Jews by the Nuremberg laws meant that his father lost control of the factory in which he manufactured buttons and buckles; he was even briefly interned in a concentration camp. ‘Kristallnacht’ on 9 November 1938 compelled the family to leave Germany.
Newton's parents fled to Chile. He was issued with a passport just after turning 18, and left Germany on 5 December 1938. At Trieste he boarded the 'Conte Rosso' (along with about two hundred others escaping the Nazis) intending to journey to China. After arriving in Singapore, Newton was interned by British authorities and was sent to Australia on board the 'Queen Mary'. Internees travelled to the camp of Tatura, Victoria by train under armed guard. He was released from internment in 1942, and briefly worked as a fruit-picker in northern Victoria. In April 1942, he enlisted with the Australian Army and worked as a truck driver. After the war, in 1945 he became an Australian citizen, and changed his name to Newton in 1946. In 1948 he married actress June Browne.She later became a successful photographer known as Alice Springs.
In 1946, Newton set up a studio in fashionable Flinders Lane and worked primarily on fashion photography in the affluent post-war years. He shared his first joint exhibition in May 1953 with Wolfgang Sievers, a German refugee like himself who had also served in the same Company. The exhibition of ‘New Visions in Photography’ was held at the Federal Hotel in Collins Street and was probably the first glimpse of 'New Objectivity' photography in Australia. Newton went into partnership with Henry Talbot, a fellow German Jew who had also been interned at Tatura.
Newton's growing reputation as a fashion photographer was rewarded when he secured a commission to illustrate fashions in a special Australian supplement for Vogue magazine, published in January 1956. He won a twelve-month contract with British Vogue and he left for London in February 1957. He left the magazine before the end of his contract and went to Paris where he worked for French and German magazines. He returned to Melbourne in March 1959 to a contract for Australian Vogue.
He settled in Paris in 1961 and continued work as a fashion photographer. His works appeared in magazines including, most significantly, French Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. He established a particular style marked by erotic, stylised scenes, often with sado-masochistic and fetishistic subtexts. A heart attack in 1970 slowed his output somewhat but he extended his work and his notoriety/fame greatly increased, notably with his 1980 "Big Nudes" series which marked the pinnacle of his erotic-urban style, underpinned with excellent technical skills. He also worked in portraiture and more fantastical studies.
Newton was extremely fond of his hometown of Berlin, and in October 2003 he donated an extensive photo collection to the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, establishing the Helmut Newton Foundation. The foundation’s aim is the conservation, protection and presentation of the oeuvre of Helmut Newton and Alice Springs.
In his later life, Newton lived in Monte Carlo and Los Angeles. He was killed when his car hit a wall in the driveway of the famous Chateau Marmont, the hotel on Sunset Boulevard which had for several years served as his residence in Southern California. It has been speculated that Newton suffered a heart attack in the moments before the collision. His ashes are buried next to Marlene Dietrich at
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 6, 2021
Imprescindible.
En cuanto a calidad-contenido-precio posiblemente la mejor manera de conocer la obra de Helmut Newton. Una recopilación muy variada de su increíble trabajo.
En cuanto a calidad-contenido-precio posiblemente la mejor manera de conocer la obra de Helmut Newton. Una recopilación muy variada de su increíble trabajo.
July 6, 2017
Un libro ideal para conocer la atrevida obra de este gran fotógrafo. Me encantó. En sus casi 300 páginas podremos apreciar distintos aspectos de su obra, desde sus clásicas fotos para revistas de modas pasando por retratos de famosos personajes hasta su (grandiosa para mi) serie de los Big Nudes.
En cuanto al libro mismo lo que más me decepcionó fue que estaba en tapa blanda. Lo encontré extraño pues para un libro de este tamaño (más o menos grande) y con el grosor de sus hojas, lo más lógico era la tapa dura como había sido su edición original (2000), pues si, esta es una edición del 2016.
Todo amante de la buena fotografía y del arte en general, me atrevería a decir, debe tener este libro. 100% recomendado.
En cuanto al libro mismo lo que más me decepcionó fue que estaba en tapa blanda. Lo encontré extraño pues para un libro de este tamaño (más o menos grande) y con el grosor de sus hojas, lo más lógico era la tapa dura como había sido su edición original (2000), pues si, esta es una edición del 2016.
Todo amante de la buena fotografía y del arte en general, me atrevería a decir, debe tener este libro. 100% recomendado.
October 23, 2022
Visually, browsing this book is a great experience. I liked the choice of photographs that are published and their arrangement.
As to the accompanying texts, I was not entirely satisfied.
Helmut Newton is able to combine the non combinable: his personal vision with the specific and somehow closed world of fashion, sexuality with humour and uncommon luxury with the everyday life.
I would therefore like to read something more about his personal history and his outlook on life, fashion and photography.
I did not really like the introductory essay and the biography at the end of the book was deplorably short.
Then again, the title says Helmut Newton: Work, so I suppose I will just have to look for Helmut Newton: Life.
As to the accompanying texts, I was not entirely satisfied.
Helmut Newton is able to combine the non combinable: his personal vision with the specific and somehow closed world of fashion, sexuality with humour and uncommon luxury with the everyday life.
I would therefore like to read something more about his personal history and his outlook on life, fashion and photography.
I did not really like the introductory essay and the biography at the end of the book was deplorably short.
Then again, the title says Helmut Newton: Work, so I suppose I will just have to look for Helmut Newton: Life.
January 8, 2025
This is an absolutely phenomenal selection of Photographies. I haven't read/looked through any other Helmut newton books, so I can really compare. Overall, I'm just a big fan of his work, and therefore perhaps a bit biased. No one does chic and sexy better than Helmut Newton and going through this book was like opening a new present every page. I don't know if anyone would find this book as sort of "made for the male-gaze" if that's your view, I must just say that I absolutely disagree. The Models in his photos, always appears very powerful and confident, I think he understood how to showcase women with respect and admiration. That shows in his work, which is really nice.
Sadly I just borrowed this book, and I don't own it, which is such a shame.
Sadly I just borrowed this book, and I don't own it, which is such a shame.
July 4, 2019
As a table book and review selected different genres shots of Helmut Newton, it is a good one. It cold be a little be better if portraits and some of the famous works added but remember this is just a selected photo-shots of Newton's the late.
May 1, 2021
You get what you probably expect from Newton.
September 13, 2016
large collection of B/w and color photos, each is noted for where, when, and who. moels in various stages of undress, some famous people and the new Beetle
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews