Vicomtesse Jacqueline de Ribes and Raymundo de Larrain, May 16, 1961 New York

This sober, composed double photographic portrait features the Chilean dancer Raymundo de Larrain and the French viscountess Jacqueline de Ribes. Seen from the side, they face each other in a strange confrontation, both keeping their eyes tightly closed. The strong contrast of black and white on an immaculate background throws the figures into relief and strengthens the dreamlike dimension in which they seem to be immersed.

Richard Avedon became famous as a fashion photographer before gradually branching out to take portraits of celebrities from around the world for the rest of his career. He managed to reveal his models’ personalities in a single shot while taking a certain number of liberties in his choice of staging. "The portrait is not a likeness", he said.

Viscountess Jacqueline de Ribes and Raymundo de Larrain, May 16, 1961, New York will be shown for the first time by the Pinault Collection during the “Au-delà de couleur” ("Beyond Colour") show at the Couvent des Jacobins in Rennes in June 2021.