Dutch photographer Bart van Leeuwen (1950-2017) turned heads as soon as he started taking photos. His first pictures were published when he was just 17 years old and his remarkable career escalated from there.
His photographs are most inspired by film noir and Italian neorealism. He spent much time in the centre of the fashion world in London and Paris, capturing moments in time on camera in a narrative, cinematic style. Often using cities as expressive backdrops, he preferred mastering subtle and believable expressions in his subjects rather than crafting perfectly posed compositions. His subjects rarely look directly at the camera and thus at the viewer of the photographs, creating distance but intrigue.
Over his career, Bart van Leeuwen captured the imagination of many people in the public eye too. He travelled the world for magazines ranging from Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan, to Wallpaper and i-D. He also photographed many celebrities, including Bob Geldof, Andy Warhol, Freddie Mercury, Giorgio Armani and Jerry Hall.