Bob Richardson

More about the book

Fashion photographer Bob Richardson (1928-2005) emerged in the 1960s with powerful, transgressive black-and-white images that captured the era's new freedoms and disillusions. His distinctive style reflected his edgy lifestyle, as noted by Cathy Horyn of The New York Times, who remarked that Richardson's work was radical for exposing the life dramas of youth rather than merely showcasing fashion. His photographs were dark, conflicted, and suggestive, embodying a sense of yearning and brokenness. A cult figure, Richardson influenced contemporaries like Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel, and Bruce Weber, despite his struggles with schizophrenia and a tumultuous life marked by experimentation with sex and drugs. Notably, he created compelling portraits of his muse, Angelica Houston, in the 1970s, while the 1980s saw him homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. This beautifully-produced volume is the first dedicated to Richardson's work, curated by his son, renowned photographer Terry Richardson. It preserves what remains of his original pieces, much of which was lost during Richardson's unpredictable career.