The outstanding artist Helmut Newton, whose photographs were published in the best glossy magazines and stored in the collections of many museums in the world, created a special, recognizable style that changed ideas about beauty and sexuality.
Childhood and family
October 31, 1929 in a suburb of Berlin, in a wealthy family, a boy was born, who was named Helmut. His mother, Klara Markvis, was the owner of a factory for the production of buckles and buttons, which she inherited from her first husband, from this marriage she had a son, Hans. Her second husband was the Polish Jew Max Neusteder, he ran the factory. The family lived in abundance, Helmut recalls that he adored his mother, who became for him the ideal of female beauty. He remembers that already in 3-4 years with great pleasure he watched how half-dressed women preens in front of the mirror: mother and nanny. Apparently, even then, this endless interest in the female body appeared in him, which gave him aesthetic pleasure.
Unfortunately, the happy life soon ended; in Germany, oppression of the Jews began. Parents transferred Helmut to an American school to save him from humiliation.
At age 12, the boy had a passion for photography, he saved up money and bought his first camera. He decided to test it in the subway, the last shots were given to the Berlin radio tower. When the film was developed, then it turned out to be only one blurry image of the tower. Helmut Newton joked that it was then that he realized that he was waiting for the worldwide fame of the photographer. At 16, he begins to attend the school of the photographer Mose Ive, where he studied for 2 years, having mastered all the basic skills of a photo artist.
The mass persecution of Jews began in 1938, his mentor Ive was stolen to Auschwitz, from where she was no longer destined to return. Helmut's father was also sent to the camp, his mother put a lot of effort and money to rescue her husband. Newton Helmut recalled that, having met his father, did not recognize him, he was a deep old man. The mother begged her son to leave Germany in order to be saved. In 1938 he leaves the country, he will no longer be able to see his parents. He said that he was not at all worried about the fate of the country, but he really missed his home and his parents.
Emigration and a new name
First, Newton Helmut wanders around the countries of Europe and Asia for a long time, working as someone else, even a journalist, then gets to Singapore, but in 1940 he was sent from there to Australia. Here he had to experience many hardships, he was a laborer, cleaned toilets, collected peaches, then he was mobilized, in the army he worked as a driver and a worker at a cement plant.
In 1946, he was demobilized, and he had the opportunity to get an Australian passport. Newton Helmut - that is how a man who dreams of world fame decided to be called. He still did not give up hope of becoming a famous photographer.
The beginning of the road to a dream
In 1946, in the Australian Melbourne, Helmut Newton, whose biography is now forever connected exclusively with photography, opens a small studio: he makes portraits, shoots weddings, tries to earn a living. At this time, he met with June Brown, an actress and model, later she became not only Newton's assistant, but also his wife.
In 1950, Newton manages to receive the first orders for photos for advertising, it was the path to fame and earnings. In 1953, the first exhibition of Helmut's works takes place. In 1956, the photographer was invited to work in the Australian Vogue. Newton works a lot, continues to shoot advertisements and models for a glossy magazine.
In 1957 he signed a contract for a year of work with the English Vogue and he and his wife went to London. This year showed that Newton has his own style, but he is too provocative and challenging for Vogue. When the contract ended, Helmut did not renew it, he had other plans.
Years of work
In 1958, Newton Helmut and his wife left for Paris. Needing orders, the photographer undertakes shooting for many magazines, these are both Australian and French Vogue, Queen. The editor of the French Vogue was indignant at the fact that the photographer allowed himself to work with their competitors, for some time he was not given orders here. But over 8 years of work in Europe, Helmut Newton earned a certain fame, his style became more and more popular, and in 1966 he was offered to return to Paris Vogue. At the same time, he was invited to the American branch of this magazine, he worked there for several years, but fruitful cooperation did not work, and the photographer returned to Paris, where he received a permanent place as a Vogue artist.
Recognition and glory
The middle of the 60s is the time of the growing fame of Helmut Newton. He is ordered to cover fashion shows, he shoots plot works for glossy magazines, portraits of movie stars. In 1968, he removed the series “Doubles”, in which he uses mannequins, this technique will become his trademark for a while.
In 1971, Newton suffered a stroke, this radically changes his attitude, fun and lightness leave his work, they become deeper, more philosophical. At this time, photo art acquires a new creator, with a pronounced style, this is Helmut Newton, high photography has become his main achievement and work of life. Art critics call his creative method “pornographic chic,” the theme of his work is sexuality and aggression, these two deep-seated attractions of a person occupy Newton, and he comprehends them from different angles. In his photographs you can often see women in collars, with whips, in shocking poses, in blood, and these are always pictures bordering on the limits of decency. Newton is an artist who carefully arranged the composition of the frame, for a long time he selected models, clothes and objects for filming.
Happy times
From the 80s for Newton begins the most fruitful and creative period of life. The photographer collaborates with the best magazines and fashion houses, all the stars of the world pose for him. He shoots a lot of Elizabeth Taylor, Twiggy, Catherine Deneuve, Andy Warhol, Sting, Sophia Loren, Monica Bellucci, David Bowie, Julia Roberts. In 1986, he was invited to make a portrait of Salvador Dali. In 1991, he makes the famous portrait of Margaret Thatcher. In the 2000s, Helmut Newton organizes several retrospective exhibitions, one of which takes place in Moscow. He is going to establish his own fund to help aspiring photographers.
Special achievements and awards
If there is an icon in photography, then one of them is Helmut Newton, whose photo is now considered an honor to host the best publications and photo galleries. During his life he received countless prizes, and he was also awarded the orders of the states of Monaco, Germany and France.
Over his life, the artist has prepared 8 albums with photographs that reflect his revolutionary view of fashion and woman.
In 2000, he transferred 1000 pictures to his native Berlin, which became a unique collection. It contains portraits of all the leading models and stars of the second half of the 20th century.
Sad ending and life after death
There are not many legendary names in the history of photography, and one of them is Helmut Newton. Photographs of the artist today are collectibles, they are republished in the form of albums, beginner photographers learn from them.
In 2004, the photographer drove out of the parking lot, but was unable to control the car and crashed into a wall, an artist died an hour after the accident. After his death, the Helmut Newton Museum opened in Berlin. Two large photo albums were released. A fund of his name has opened. The name of this original artist, who was able to show the world the soul of a woman and change the idea of sexuality, is forever inscribed in the history of photography.