1961

New Icons of Style

Black-and-white image, iconic image of an elegant lady with a pinned-up hairstyle and elbow-length gloves; she holds her right hand with her fingers spread across her face
Nana, Place Blanche, Paris 1961, Christer Strömholm
© Christer Strömholm / Strömholm Estate



In the 60s, strong, versatile forms of expression such as fashion and film are thriving. Trend and fashion photography is not highly respected by serious photojournalists at this time; however, a few decide to venture into this glamourous new world. In this field, they capture in documentary form that which moves society to dream, emulate or admire.



Society Becomes More Colourful

Seeing a moment captured for the first time in living colour, instead of monochrome: The introduction of colour in photography is nothing short of a revolution – both for individuals and for the eyes of the world. Although the technology has been available since the 30s, colour photography doesn’t begin to triumph until the 60s. Fittingly, this comes at the exact time when a large part of global society is becoming more colourful and striving for individuality and autonomy.

Man standing in the snow seen through a fogged window
Snow 1970, Saul Leiter
© Saul Leiter Foundation
A child walks down a flight of stairs, with a Turkish building in the background
Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Mosque, Fatih, İstanbul 1988, Ara Güler
© Ara Güler / Ara Güler Museum
Red-haired woman with a pram standing in front of a house with a Union Jack on the wall, a man on a ladder seen in the background
Redhead with Pram, Liverpool 1965, John Bulmer
© John Bulmer / Popperfoto via Getty Images
Small girl rides a giraffe on a carousel
Tivoli, Copenhagen 1959, Peter Cornelius
© Peter Cornelius
A man in a suit smokes while walking through Harlem; a red car and a bar sign are seen in the background
Harlem 1960, Saul Leiter
© Saul Leiter Foundation
Boy standing in front of the shopwindow of a second-hand store
2nd Hand Store Boy 1969, Fred Herzog
© Courtesy The Estate of Fred Herzog and Equinox Gallery, Vancouver
Women wearing two-piece skirt suits on Madison Avenue; three women bend over, seemingly looking for something on the ground
Madison Avenue, New York City 1973, Mitch Epstein
© Mitch Epstein
Interior view of the Main Barber Shop; to the right, the view out of the shopwindow with lettering
Main Barber 1968, Fred Herzog
© Courtesy The Estate of Fred Herzog and Equinox Gallery, Vancouver
Distorted shot of a TV image, showing a man and woman in gaudy colours; a moiré pattern permeates the images
TV shot of couple in soap opera 1972, Harry Gruyaert
© Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos
People playing music and dancing happily in a room with colourful walls; a bemused teenager looks on
Spain 1966, Joel Meyerowitz
© Joel Meyerowitz
Man with a cigarette and injuries to his face and hand stands on the street and seems to be hailing a taxi
Man with Bandage 1968, Fred Herzog
© Courtesy The Estate of Fred Herzog and Equinox Gallery, Vancouver
Colour plays itself out along a richer band of feelings – more wavelengths, more radiance, more sensation.
– Joel Meyerowitz
Portrait of Joel Meyerowitz
A man falls over on the pavement in Paris, people look on in shock, a worker walks past him
Around the World with Joel Meyerowitz
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