A Hardie Grant Books book

Gloss The Work of Chris von Wangenheim

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Between the years of 1968 to 1981, photographer Chris von Wangenheim shocked the world with a body of work that explored sex and violence in the realm of high fashion. Titillating and impossible to ignore, von Wangenheim's work was emblematic of the time—an era that encompassed Deep Throat, the sexual revolution, and Studio 54—at the same time as it continually challenged the taste of its viewers by its stylized depictions of suggestive (and often harrowing) narratives. Von Wangenheim's images appeared in every top fashion publication of the seventies (including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Italia, and Interview) and he produced unforgettable campaigns for Dior and Valentino. A car accident tragically ended his life at the peak of his career. His dark, enigmatic photographs remain as significant today as they were when they were shot, offering an evocative look at the wildness, danger, and glamour of 1970s New York. This book, the first monograph on von Wangenheim and his career, contains more than two hundred provocative and iconic images, including many never-before-seen outtakes from memorable shoots with supermodels. Drawing on interviews with models, editors, art directors, and friends, the Padilha brothers tell the story of von Wangenheim's life and position the man in the context of the glamour and excess of the 1970s.