Famed Swiss art dealer Simon de Pury is exhibiting a selection of rare and unseen photographs from the archive of renowned photographer Anton Corbijn.

A colossal influence on the contemporary photographic world at large, whose notable subjects include the likes of Gerhard Richter, Donatella Versace and Virgil Abloh, this special selection of Corbijn’s stark, monochrome works include rare, never before seen pictures from the photographer’s multi-decade spanning career.

The show is the latest instalment of de Pury’s ‘de Pury presents’ series, in which the world-renowned auctioneer collaborates with international artists to stage exhibitions from their own studios, with previous iterations playing host to London-based painter Henry Hudson and sculpture works from Saint Laurent favourite, Vanessa Beecroft.

“I have followed with great interest the unique perspective Corbijn offers both in his work as a photographer and as a director,” explains de Pury of the showcase. “This current exhibition consists of some of my absolute favourite photographs he has made. If the fashion world was the stepping-stone for Helmut Newton, it is the music world that was the stepping-stone for Anton Corbijn.” 

Corbijn got his start in photography by shooting local bands in the Netherlands throughout the early 70s. At the end of the decade, he decamped to the UK to work as the New Musical Express’ (NME) staff photographer, shooting career-defining portraits of Joy Division, the Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop and Depeche Mode. Using low shutter speeds to capture the idiosyncrasies of his subjects, Corbijn’s work stresses movement above all, providing a uniquely intimate look at some of the biggest stars of his time. 

Having ruled the roost of every creative medium you can think of since thereafter, from record sleeve design to curating music videos for musical icons of decades past, the Dutch photographer’s skilful eye now mostly lends itself to the feature film world. Kicking off his directorial debut with Control, a monochrome biopic on Ian Curtis, Joy Division’s magnetic frontman and former Corbijn photography subject back in 2007, Corbijn has since gone on to direct the likes of George Clooney, Dane Dehaan and the late Philip Seymour-Hoffman. How’s that for a prolific career?

Anton Corbijn is available to view at The Hague by appointment only, and online at de-Pury.com.