At the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), located on 230 Fenway, viewers can take a look through the lens of fashion photographer, Richard Avedon, whose collection is on display until January 17^th 2011.

Walking into the Foster Gallery, the viewer is taken into Avedon’s world starting at 1944 and ending in 2000. The exhibit displays his impressive black and white photos, as well as his “In Memory of the late Mr. & Mrs. Comfort” color photo series published in the New Yorker in 1995. The series pairs German model, Nadja Auermann, with a skeleton figure that represents her deceased husband. The photos are vivid, sensual, and show the realms of human emotion. Avedon flawlessly brings together the world of high fashion and the afterlife.

Avedon once said “You cannot separate fashion from the world…fashion is the way we live.”     He turned models into icons with the click of his camera. From Veruschka to Twiggy, Avedon helped these women become forces in the fashion industry.

In the 1950s, Avedon brought glamour and energy back to haute couture when he photographed the “New Look of Dior” in Paris. The “New Look” created a female silhouette that was both feminine and refined. The 1955 image, Dovima with Elephants, is the penultimate example of Avedon’s eye for detail. Dovima, who is dressed in a sleek evening gown, curves her body to imitate the movements of the elephants.

Avedon used the human body to create lines and geometric shapes. He captured human movement in a ground breaking way. The 1958 image, Homage to Munkacsi, Avedon captures model, Carmen Dell’Orefice, midair as she is stepping off the sidewalk with her umbrella open. The tilted umbrella, pointed toes, and hand in her front pocket pops out at the viewer.

Looking at the photos decade by decade, the viewer is able to see how the modern woman has evolved. From Brigitte Bardot to Kate Moss, Avedon captured not only their beauty but their power. His photos demonstrate that women are more than objects of beauty, they are forces of nature.

So whether you are a fashion devout, photographer lover, or simply enjoy going to museums, the Avedon exhibit is a must see.

For more information on the Avedon exhibit visit: http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/sub.asp?key=15&subkey=10331