Helmut Newton, the Ultimate Provocateur

by None

As film gives way to the digital revolution, the photographs of Helmut Newton only grow more compelling — slick and steamy, stunning in simplicity, equally influenced by art and erotica. Beginning June 17, Foam museum in Amsterdam will present a major retrospective of the iconic photographer, featuring more than 200 works, ranging from early prints (that rarely go on display) to monumental photos, the majority of which are on loan from the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin.

The name Helmut Newton immediately conjures up images of long-legged, high-heeled, scantily clad women. More than a pervy obsession, this was a reflection of the 1970s and early 1980s, a period of radical social change and female empowerment. Whether they’re naked or nearly so, his glamazon goddesses are always in control.

Simultaneously, Newton developed into a highly influential portrait photographer, who captured the major names of his time — from film stars to politicians — with his camera. In the 1970s and 1980s, a portrait by Newton was seen as the ultimate proof of arrival.

Helmut Newton – A Retrospective, June 17 – September 4, 2016, Foam, Amsterdam

Self-portrait with wife and model