Peter Lindbergh: The Man Who Created The Supermodel
His signature style of black and white film photography remains unmatched, whilst his portfolio
including world’s most celebrated icons of beauty is unparalleled. Peter Lindbergh, the
photographer responsible for accelerating the 90s supermodel momentum. September 3 rd 2020,
marks exactly one year following the German visionary’s passing, but his legacy continues to live
on.
Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz and British
Vogue – this is how Lindbergh kicked off a new fashion decade, 30 years ago. Till this day, the
January 1990 cover of the UK fashion bible which starred the five-women cast, is considered a
staple in Vogue history. And that of the fashion industry at large. Dubbed “the birth of the
supermodel,” the iconic image pursuaded George Michael to book the crop of beauties for his
Freedom! 90’ video. And the rest, is history they say.
Over the course of roughly five decades, Lindbergh – who began his career as a painter before
devoting himself to photography – immortalized his vision in the form of magazine covers, ad
campaigns, exhibitions, coffee table books and the coveted Pirelli calendar. Regarding the latter,
the photographer was thrice given the opportunity to shoot “The Cal” – most recently in the year
2017. That year’s calendar made headlines as it reportedly featured unretouched images of
Hollywood royalty including Uma Thurman and Lupita Nyong’o. In true Lindbergh fashion, the raw
images were about celebrating women of all ages as they are – not what society tells them to look
like.
Peter Lindbergh educated the fashion industry on beauty having no expiration date. Along the way
he created images that – in line with his philosophy about beauty – will stand the test of time.
