Austrian fashion photographer Elfie Semotan dies at 85

Elfie Semotan, an Austrian fashion photographer celebrated for her collaborations with designer Helmut Lang, has passed away. She gained prominence in the mid-1970s through bold advertisements for the Austrian lingerie label Palmers, which featured the tagline 'Trau dich doch' ('I dare you'). These visuals sparked both feminist critique and acclaim for their depiction of empowered women. Her extensive partnership with Helmut Lang, spanning two decades, solidified her status, characterized by minimalist portraiture that mirrored Lang's aesthetic. Semotan also captured renowned artists like Louise Bourgeois, Maria Lassnig, Daniel Richter, and Christopher Wool. Originally from Wels, she studied fashion in Vienna, briefly modeled in Paris, and returned to Vienna in 1971. She married artist Kurt Kocherscheidt in 1973 until his death in 1992, and wed artist Martin Kippenberger in 1996, becoming a widow within a year.