The 1920s: Modernity and Iridescence

Chapter in Ivan Shaw (ed.), Chronorama: Photographic Treasures of the Twentieth Century, Abrams, New York, 2023, published to accompany an exhibition of the same name at The Pinault Collection, Venice, Italy.

An unprecedented volume of photography from the Condé Nast Archive, illustrating the history, art, and fashion of their famous magazines. Chronorama: Photographic Treasures of the 20th Century is an impressive photography volume curated by Condé Nast. Chrono—referring to space-time—and rama—referring to sight—are the cornerstones of this notable art record that depicts the third decade of the 21st century, a decade that had the potential to be another Roaring Twenties, and during which, Condé Nast Publications experienced meteoric growth. Taken from the pages of Vogue, Vanity Fair, House & Garden, GQ, and Glamour, the nearly 400 stunning original vintage prints and illustrations within this tome are by top photographers such as Irving Penn, Helmut Newton, Edward Steichen, Cecil Beaton, Eduardo Garcia Benito, Horst P. Horst, George Hoyningen-Huene, and Arthur Elgort—resulting in an unprecedented showcase of some of the most important works ever to be produced for the magazine page. Organized by decade, the book opens with the 1910s and ends with the 1970s, and the backstories of each decade are told through the art and historical context of the times, firmly situating the prevalence of the works in the minds of the readers. An exclusive collection of full-color, vivid, exquisite, and memorable images, Chronorama is not only a landmark in the history of photography and illustrated books, but also a pivotal time in the history of fashion, design, and the arts.