Herbert List, Colette, 1950s, Print

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Colette by Herbert List, ca. 1950 – Vintage Print This intimate black-and-white portrait captures the legendary French author, performer, and … Read more Colette by Herbert List, ca. 1950 – Vintage Print This intimate black-and-white portrait captures the legendary French author, performer, and feminist icon Colette (1873–1954) in her later years. Photographed by German photographer Herbert List around 1950, the image reveals Colette in a pensive, almost shadowy pose, her wild hair softly illuminated against a dark background. Her thoughtful gaze and hand resting against her chin evoke the depth and complexity of a woman who defied conventions in literature, gender, and society. List’s composition is stark yet poetic, emphasizing form, light, and introspection—hallmarks of his humanist photographic vision. This vintage print is a rare testimony to the encounter between two artistic spirits of the 20th century. about Herbert List (1903–1975) Herbert List was a German photographer whose elegant compositions combined classical aesthetics with surrealism and modernism. Originally trained as a merchant, he turned to photography in the 1930s. He worked for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Life, and became a member of Magnum Photos. His black-and-white imagery often explored male beauty, mythological themes, and Mediterranean light, balancing documentary realism with poetic vision. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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