Stunning Fashion Photography by Herbert Matter in the 1940s and ’50s

Born 1907 in Engelberg, Swiss American photographer and graphic designer Herbert Matter went to the United States in 1936 and was hired by legendary art director Alexey Brodovitch. Work for Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and other magazines followed.

Fashion photography by Herbert Matter in the 1940s and ’50s

From 1946 to 1966, Matter was design consultant with Knoll Associates. He worked closely with Charles and Ray Eames. From 1952 to 1976, he was professor of photography at Yale University and from 1958 to 1968, he served as design consultant to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. He was elected to the New York Art Director’s Club Hall of Fame in 1977, received a Guggenheim Fellowship in photography in 1980 and the AIGA medal in 1983.

Matter was known for his pioneering use of photomontage in commercial art. His innovative and experimental work helped shape the vocabulary of 20th-century graphic design. He died in 1984, aged 77. These stunning photos were taken by Herbert Matter that show fashion portraits of classic beauties in the 1940s and 1950s.

French model and socialite Odette photographed by Herbert Matter for cover of Harper’s Bazaar, June 1940

Lisa Fonssagrives photographed by Herbert Matter to illustrate scented oils by Elsa Schiaparelli, Vogue, November 15, 1943

Katherine Cassidy in bare-shouldered afternoon dress of delicately tucked beige chambray by Mildred Orrick, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, December 1, 1946

Katherine Cassidy is wearing a summer hood with flying streamers of white rayon straw cloth by Suzy, U.S.A. at Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, June 1, 1946

Model in a strapless summer dress with tucked and gathered bodice by Mildred Orrick, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, December 1946

Barbara Tullgren in a gold-striped gingham suit by Adele Simpson, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, April 15, 1947

Model in natural linen suit piped in, and with a second collar, in navy-blue linen by Herbert Sondheim, elk bag laced in navy at Macy's, car is 1947 Oldsmobile, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, May 1, 1947

Model in sleek sharkskin, bare-back, flare skirt suit, with a string-tied top and shorts to match by Louella Ballerino for Jantzen, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, January 1, 1947

Model seated in a studio, wearing a green, short-sleeved, pleated dress and multiple necklaces of colored beads, by Ben Reig, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, September 15, 1947

Model wearing a suit ensemble with a pair of shoes in front, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, September 15, 1947

Models standing on cafe chairs displaying their stockings, photo by Herbert Matter, Glamour, December 1, 1947

Models wearing summer playsuits by Pat Premo, photo by Herbert Matter, 1947

A fern shadowed dress in green by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Herbert Matter, February 1948

Barbara Mullen in burgundy and gray dress with gray waist band and gray cotton gloves, all by Mildred Orrick, photo by Herbert Matter, February 1948

Jean Petit “Joan Petit”, photo by Herbert Matter for US Vogue, January 1948

Model for Vogue taken by Herbert Matter, 1948

Model is wearing a suit by Ceil Chapman, photo by Herbert Matter, New York, February 1948

Model is wearing gray wool sweater with white mink collar and gold metallic veil, photo by Herbert Matter, 1948

Woman with Beads, photo by Herbert Matter, 1948

Betty Bridgers in suit and helmet of gray wool jersey, a Paris import by Jo Hughes, fox boa from Esther Dorothy, 1949 Jaguar Convertible from Hoffman Motors, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, May 15, 1949

Evelyn Tripp in cape-collared coatdress of black wool by Sheila Lynn, black fox muff from Harold J. Rubin, pearls from La Tausca, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, September 15, 1949

Georgia Hamilton in silk taffeta dress holding yards of silk by Ducharne and C.M. Gourdon, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, 1949

Katherine Cassidy in sleeveless white blouse of menswear shirting and beige linen skirt by Clare Potter, Buick Roadmaster convertible, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, May 15, 1949

Model in beige linen suit with wood buttons and white braiding copied from Balenciaga design by Lo Balbo, Oldsmobile "88" convertible, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, May 15, 1949

Model in red moleskin jacket to wear over anything by Arnheimer, 1949 Cadillac convertible, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, May 15, 1949

House & Garden, photo by Herbert Matter, July 1950

House & Garden, photo by Herbert Matter, September 1950

House & Garden, photo by Herbert Matter, September 1950

House & Garden, photo by Herbert Matter, September 1950

House & Garden, photo by Herbert Matter, September 1950

Model demonstrates how to apply Coty "Finger Blend" make-up, photo by Herbert Matter, New York, April 1950

Sophie Malgat, House & Garden, photo by Herbert Matter, February 1950

Sunny Harnett in gray worsted gabardine coat, leather-belted, wide lapels buttoned back, by Lilli Ann, hat by John-Frederics, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, January 1, 1951

Model with her hair styled into an updo, wearing gold and turquoise earring by David Webb, photo by Herbert Matter, circa 1955

House & Garden, photo by Herbert Matter, February 1, 1956

House & Garden, photo by Herbert Matter, February 1956