For the first time in Italy, from 21 January to 18 May 2025, Palazzo Reale in Milan celebrates the talent of George Hoyningen-Huene (St. Petersburg, 1900 – Los Angeles, 1968), an iconic figure and pioneer of fashion photography. The exhibition, curated by Susanna Brown and produced by Palazzo Reale and CMS.Cultura, offers the public a unique opportunity to learn about the aesthetic vision and career of one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. With approximately 110 works, including iconic photographs and personal objects, the exhibition explores the elegance and originality that made Huene a point of reference for entire generations of photographers.

The son of an American aristocrat and an Estonian baron, Hoyningen-Huene left Russia with his family after the October Revolution, landing in Paris, where he became one of the protagonists of the cultural scene of the 1920s. Immersed in the Parisian artistic environment, he formed relationships with leading figures such as Salvador Dalí, Coco Chanel, Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Lee Miller and Man Ray, finding in them inspiration for his stylistic experimentation. In 1925, thanks to his innovative vision and refined style, he was appointed the first photographer of the French edition of Vogue, quickly becoming one of the most influential photographers of his time.

Hoyningen-Huene stands out not only for his compositional skill, but also for his innovative use of printing techniques that give his photographs a unique depth and tonal range, capable of captivating even contemporary audiences. Richard Avedon, one of the great masters of twentieth-century photography, called him “a genius, the master of us all”.

Structured in ten sections, each dedicated to a fundamental aspect of Hoyningen-Huene’s artistic path, the exhibition includes fascinating portraits of Parisian muses and services for the most prestigious haute couture houses, including Chanel, Balenciaga and Schiaparelli. The images on display reflect a formal research that combines the classical inspiration of Greek art with the influences of Surrealism, giving life to a unique and recognizable aesthetic synthesis. Among the most important works, the famous portrait of Lee Miller stands out, a model and photographer who posed for Huene and learned from him the techniques she later developed with Man Ray.

The artist’s work is told in a rich catalogue edited by Susanna Brown, published by the London publishing house Thames & Hudson and distributed in Italy by Moebius Editore.
The exhibition is organized in collaboration with the George Hoyningen-Huene Estate, which today preserves and promotes the legacy of this extraordinary photographer under the guidance of Tommy and Åsa Rönngren, the new owners of the archive recently moved to Stockholm. The George Hoyningen-Huene Estate is committed to ensuring that this extraordinary legacy is studied, preserved and shared, so that Huene’s work can continue to inspire new generations.