Two women with parallel destinies, two artists with different styles. Discover the work of Lillian Bassman and Sheila Metzner, two American fashion photographers, still little known in France. The Galerie Rouge wanted to spotlight these two artists, through a free exhibition running from May 29 to September 19, 2026.
The exhibition C'est Chic brings together a curated selection of fashion photographs by the two artists from the 20th century. It’s an opportunity to discover these two women, compare their styles, and appreciate their journeys through the exclusive world of fashion.
Lillian Bassman was born in 1917 and was named art director of Harper’s Bazaar Junior in 1945. Sheila Metzner, for her part, was born in 1939 and worked in the fashion world in the 1980s. They thus lived through two eras of fashion—though not so far apart when you’re a woman. Indeed, these two artists had to break through in a a man’s world, prove their worth in this demanding field, all while balancing family life. Each with her own style, they nevertheless left a lasting impression with their meticulously crafted photographs.
Setting aside the commercial side of fashion, and focusing more on its artistic dimension, the two women have developed a distinctive artistic voice that makes each image stronger, more memorable, and more expressive.
Lillian Bassman pushed the boundaries with a specialized development technique to heighten the impact of her photographs. The deliberate blur lends a poetic, romantic atmosphere to her images. Bassman enjoys playing with texture and light to guide the viewer’s eye. She consistently seeks to defy expectations by injecting an element of surprise into her compositions.
In the 1980s, the style tilted toward the flashy. Sheila Metzner, for her part, embraces baroque flair, color, elaborate sets, and more densely composed images. Yet she retains the same meticulous attention to detail and finely tailored layouts. Metzner also plays with textures and emotion. Her photographs are conceived like paintings, showing the influence of other artists and past art movements.
With these two women, fashion photography has become an art in its own right. The clothes or the model aren’t the stars of the image—the photograph itself is the work of art.
Fashion enthusiasts will want to check out this free exhibition, which spotlights two major artists from their respective generations.
Dates and Opening Time
From May 29, 2026 to September 19, 2026
Location
The Red Gallery
3 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe
75004 Paris 4
Prices
Free
Official website
lagalerierouge.paris
