Steven Meisel’s Body of Work
Steven Meisel (born 1954) became an important and prolific fashion photographer of his time, achieving success in both the editorial and advertising worlds. Meisel is well-known for his published work in both American and Italian Vogue, where his covers and fashion pages have been part of the issues since the 1980s. Producing the most memorable yet controversial pieces of his generation, he is famous for his campaigns in Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, and many more.
Many people often ask what his inspirations are, his intentions, and the story behind every photograph he clicks. Mentioned in an interview in 2003:
“Inspiration comes from all over the place. I’m eager to soak up new information – it can be from the nineteenth century as long as its new to me. It can come from going to the grocery store or looking at an artist from millions of years ago. My style changes constantly. Fashion is about change, in order to stay current and excited, I try new and different approaches.”
Steven Meisel has embraced this motto of change since the 1980s. His photographs express more than just ‘showing off’ clothes. He typically focuses on political or social topics of the time and uses that to convey a story. Topics such as racism, terrorism, and domestic violence have all played a role in his artworks. Many photographers usually tend to stay away with such sensitive topics since it causes controversies, which is exactly what happened with Meisel. It caused a flurry throughout all media worldwide.
The following are some of the pictures he has taken over the years, ranging from the topics of racism, sex, and diversity.
Grunge (Vogue, December 1992)
Steven Meisel was one of the firsts to introduce the idea of ‘Grunge’ to the mainstream audience. This image was published in Vogue in 1992. It speaks about the idea of androgyny and how it was an attempt to disrupt the existence of gender differentiation. This idea was initially disapproved by Anna Wintour, however, was one of the most important fashion stories of the decade.
Madonna (Sex, 1992)
One of Meisel’s most iconic photographs was shot with Madonna in 1992; a nude photoshoot for her book named ‘Sex’. Here, Madonna exemplifies a sultry yet confident look to convey the mood.
Vogue Patterns (Italia, 2007)
This photoshoot was published in Vogue Italia in December 2007. For this specific shoot, the technique that Meisel used was slightly different. He had pushed the boundaries with the compositions and the settings. He used a ladder to photograph the model at a specific height to get the complete look from head to toe. In addition, he created an optical illusion with the garment that the model (Lara Stone) is wearing, along with the patterns and color palette composition in the background. The lighting for the backdrop is quite soft and not too harsh, and there is direct eye contact between the model and the camera to produce more chemistry for the shot.
Controversy (Vogue Italia, 2011)
This gruesome image shot by Meisel hoped to raise awareness regarding the Gulf of Mexico Oil spill that took place in 2010. Here, Kristen McMenamy is seen choking on a chemical substance, lying helplessly on a bed of rocks and boulders, along with clear visible oil stains on her clothes. The reference became even more apparent in the magazine when images of oil-drenched models were exposed as well. This was considered a controversial topic, it raised debates regarding whether the fashion industry should discuss these kinds of issues in their magazines.