Peter Lindbergh, German Fashion Photographer, Has Passed At 74

Remembering an icon in the fashion world

If you are passionate about the fashion industry, you’ve probably heard of Peter Lindbergh. A German photographer often credited for what is now the infamous supermodel, it was announced on his Instagram account on September 3rd, 2019 that Lindbergh had passed away.

Known for his work with famous supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, he had recently begun expanding his photography work, shooting famous activists, authors, and many others as the fashion industry evolved, and so did his work. The shoot that kick-started his fame was the cover of British Vogue in January 1990. It featured supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford, and it was this very shoot that is said to have been the start of the phenomenon of the supermodel.

And while his photography left his legend, he has also been known to have left us with many pieces of wisdom. One of those quotes, in regards to retouching photography, is: “The first rule of beauty is the truth. When you look in the magazines, the women have no experiences or any marks of a past or of anything…and they are totally wiped out and washed out and I think that’s insane,” he said. “That dream of perfection and that dream of forever young is a ridiculous thought.”