Intriguing, revolutionary and undoubtedly one of the twentieth century's most influential fashion photographers, Guy Bourdin was an innovative image-maker whose work has achieved a cult following. His striking use of colour, suggestive narratives and surreal aesthetic established a visual language entirely his own. Although best known for colour images, Bourdin began working in black and white in the early 1950s. Untouched explores this largely unseen work, offering insight into the early development of his photographic eye. The carefully constructed images, initially conceived as an exhibition series, reveal his artistic motivations years before he began commissions for French Vogue and Photo Femina. In both concept and composition, they demonstrate his fascination with bold graphic arrangements and cinematic, narrative portraits. Photographing people he encountered on the streets of Paris, Bourdin trained his eye to transcend the medium's realism, developing a unique perspective through unconventional manipulations of the picture plane.
 
Guy Bourdin was born in Paris in 1928. His fashion photography career spanned more than three decades. He worked primarily for French Vogue, as well as Harper's Bazaar, Chanel, Issey Miyake, Versace, Charles Jourdan and Emanuel Ungaro. His work is held in prestigious museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Jeu de Paume, the Guggenheim and the National Museum of China. Bourdin died in 1991.