Guy Bourdin (1928-1991) was a French fashion photographer who revolutionized the industry with his surreal, provocative, and often controversial images. He was born in Paris on December 2, 1928 to a family of modest means. His father was a tailor and his mother worked as a seamstress.
Bourdin began his career as an apprentice to Man Ray in the late 1940s. He quickly developed an eye for composition and color, and soon began working as a freelance photographer for Vogue magazine. His work was characterized by its boldness and surrealism, often featuring unexpected juxtapositions of objects or people in strange settings. He also had a knack for creating powerful images that were both visually arresting and emotionally evocative.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Bourdin's work appeared regularly in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, and other fashion magazines. He also collaborated with some of the most influential designers of the era including Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Pierre Cardin, and Coco Chanel. His photographs were often seen as subversive or even shocking at the time but have since become iconic images of modern fashion photography.
Bourdin continued to work until his death in 1991 at the age of 63. His legacy lives on through his photographs which are now widely exhibited in galleries around the world. He is remembered as one of the most influential photographers of all time whose work continues to inspire generations of photographers today.