 |
Horst P. HorstFashion photographer
Date of Birth: 14.08.1906
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- The Legendary Horst P. Horst
- Meeting George Hoyningen-Huene
- Rise to Stardom
- Notable Collaborations
- Personal Life
- Military Service and Later Career
- Later Work and Legacy
The Legendary Horst P. Horst
Early Life and InfluencesHorst Paul Albert Bohrmann, who later became known as Horst P. Horst, was born in Weißenfels-an-der-Saale, Germany, in 1906. His father was a successful businessman. As a teenager, Horst was heavily influenced by dancer Evan Weidemann, which sparked his interest in the arts. He studied at the Hamburg Kunstgewerbeschule and later moved to Paris to pursue architecture.
Meeting George Hoyningen-Huene
In the early 1930s, Horst's fate took a significant turn when he met Baron George Hoyningen-Huene, a photographer for Vogue. They became close friends, and Horst assisted Hoyningen-Huene as a model and possibly a lover. Together, they spent a winter in England, where they established connections with British Vogue.
Rise to Stardom
Horst soon began photographing himself and quickly joined Vogue in 1931. By the following year, his photos had gained immense popularity in the British edition. In 1932, his first exhibition in Paris received glowing reviews from The New Yorker. As a result, Horst P. Horst became a rising star in fashion photography.
Notable Collaborations
Renowned publications sought out Horst's expertise. In 1932, he photographed Bette Davis. Over the next few years, he captured the likenesses of Noël Coward, Yvonne Printemps, Lisa Fonssagrives, and many more notable figures. In 1937, he met Coco Chanel, who became a lifelong inspiration.
Personal Life
In 1938, Horst met British diplomat Valentine Lawford, and they formed a long-term partnership that lasted until Lawford's death in 1991. Together, they adopted and raised a son, Richard J. Horst. Horst became a US citizen in 1941 and legally changed his name to Horst P. Horst.
Military Service and Later Career
During World War II, Horst served as a military photographer for Belvoir Castle. In 1945, he photographed President Harry S. Truman, and they became close friends. Horst went on to photograph every post-war First Lady. He continued his fashion photography throughout the 1950s and 1960s, capturing the portraits of prominent socialites and elites.
Later Work and Legacy
While maintaining his role at Vogue, Horst also began contributing to House & Garden in the 1970s. His final Vogue photograph, a portrait of Princess Michael of Kent, appeared in 1991. Horst P. Horst passed away in 1999 at the age of 93. He remains an iconic figure in fashion photography, known for his glamorous portraits and elevated the genre to a newfound level of sophistication.
