ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Peter Knapp: Fashion Photography Revolutionary and Avant-Garde Heir

publication · 2026-04-24

Peter Knapp, known for revolutionizing fashion photography in the 1960s by centering the female body, continued his photographic research with a rigor that aligns him with avant-garde pioneers Moholy-Nagy, Man Ray, and Steichen. The article, published in artpress in March 1987, examines his dual legacy as both a commercial innovator and a serious artist.

Key facts

  • Peter Knapp revolutionized fashion photography in the 1960s.
  • His work emphasized the female body.
  • He pursued photographic research with rigor.
  • His approach is compared to Moholy-Nagy, Man Ray, and Steichen.
  • The article was published in artpress in March 1987.

Entities

Artists

  • Peter Knapp
  • László Moholy-Nagy
  • Man Ray
  • Edward Steichen

Institutions

  • artpress

Sources