Virtually unparalleled in terms of scope for over five decades, the photography of the visionary Helmut Newton (1920-2004) reached millions through its publication in magazines such as Vogue and Elle. His work transcended genres, bringing elegance, style and voyeurism to fashion, portrait and glamour photography through a body of work that remains to this day as inimitable as it is unparalleled. Having mastered the art of fashion photography early in his career, Newton’s shots invariably went beyond standard practices, blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion. Newton’s clear aesthetic pervades all areas of his work, particularly fashion, portraiture and nude photography. Women take centre stage, with subjects such as Catherine Deneuve, Liz Taylor and Charlotte Rampling. Going beyond traditional narrative approaches, Newton’s fashion photography is imbued not only with luxurious elegance and subtle seduction, but also with cultural references and a surprising sense of humour.

Helmut Newton. Legacy, which accompanies an international exhibition tour of Newton’s work, including the one now on display at The Photography Rooms, presents the highlights of one of photography’s most iconic corpuses, including numerous rediscovered images. A prolific image-maker and true visionary, this book celebrates Newton’s enduring influence on modern photography and visual art to this day.