Norman Parkinson

Norman Parkinson (1913-1990) was one of the most celebrated British fashion and society photographers whose career spanned more than half of the 20th century. He is most known for helping to glamourise fashion photography from the 1930s onwards, turning it from something formal and functional into something dynamic, exciting, and captivating. Through his work with some of the world’s most respected fashion publications, from Harper’s Bazaar to Vogue to the Pirelli Calendar, he was responsible for launching the careers of numerous models, including Jerry Hall, Grace Coddington, and Celia Hammond. Humour and spontaneity were key to Parkinson’s work, as well as innovative and unusual locations and bold use of form and colour. Indeed, it was thanks to his larger-than-life personality.