HELMUT NEWTON (1920-2004)
These are clothes for the night but Newton juxtaposes his subject with the high-rise architecture of New York in full, strong daylight, subverting through his teasing reference the countless Modernist images of the city with which he was familiar.
HELMUT NEWTON (1920-2004)

Elsa Peretti in a 'Bunny' costume by Halston, New York, 1975

Details
HELMUT NEWTON (1920-2004)
Elsa Peretti in a 'Bunny' costume by Halston, New York, 1975
gelatin silver print, printed later
signed, titled and dated in pencil (on the verso)
22 7/8 x 15 1/8in. (58.2 x 38.4cm.)
Provenance
Hamiltons Gallery, London
Literature
Vogue, Paris, November 1976, p. 131;
Newton, White Women, Stonehill Press, 1976, p. 15;
Marquet, Helmut Newton: Mode et Portraits, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 1984, pl. 22;
Squiers, Helmut Newton Portraits, Pantheon Books, 1987, pl. 25;
Pepper, Portraits Helmut Newton, National Portrait Gallery, 1988, p. 33, pl. 17;
Helmut Newton Aus Dem Photographischen Werk, Schimer Art Books, 1993, pl. 40;
Helmut Newton for Press Freedom, Reporters Without Borders, 2003, cover and p. 41.

Lot Essay

Elsa Peretti was a well-known figure within New York's fashion milieu when Newton made this portrait of her on the terrace of her apartment. With his typical eye for the incongruous contrasts that would add spice, and energy to his picture, Newton chose to photograph her by day in a sophisticated version, by designer Halston, of the 'Bunny' outfit associated with the Playboy Empire. These are clothes for the night but Newton juxtaposes his subject with the high-rise architecture of New York in full, strong daylight, subverting through his teasing reference the countless Modernist images of the city with which he was familiar.

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