Elegance in a click: why you can’t miss Horst P. Horst in Venice

You know those photographs that seem to be sculpted in light? Those black-and-white images where everything is perfect, from the position of the hands to the shadows on the floor? If you’ve never seen a photo by Horst P. Horst in person, now is your chance. From 21 February to 5 July 2026, Le Stanze della Fotografia, on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, will host the exhibition “Horst P. Horst. The Geometry of Grace”, one of the most eagerly awaited of the year.

It is a true immersion in the refined universe of an absolute master of 20th-century photography. Curated by Anne Morin in collaboration with Denis Curti, the exhibition offers a unique insight into the German-born American photographer who made history at Vogue and beyond.

Horst P. Horst in Venice

Horst did not just photograph dream dresses. He sculpted the human body with light, transformed gestures into architecture and made elegance a matter of proportions. This exhibition does not simply reproduce his most famous images: it invites you to discover the full complexity of his vision, ranging from fashion to portraits, still lifes to drawings, spanning more than half a century of beauty conceived and constructed like an architectural project.

On display are over 300 works, including vintage prints, colour photographs, sketches and documents never before seen in Italy. The exhibition will take you through decades of elegance, rigour and creativity. And if you love photography, or simply beauty, you will find it hard to remain indifferent.

Before even picking up a camera, Horst studied architecture in Hamburg and Paris, where he collaborated with Le Corbusier. His visual sensibility was formed there, among clean lines, pure volumes and spaces calculated to the millimetre. When he began taking photographs, he brought this lesson with him. His photos are never random. Every detail is in its place. Every body is shaped by shadows and light in a balance that seems eternal.

The exhibition highlights this aspect of his work. What you will see is not a collection of beautiful images, but a visual exploration of the concept of grace, which Horst achieves by blending classicism and modernism, sensuality and precision. A photograph by Horst is not just a snapshot, it is an art form.

The exhibition also features portraits of some of the most fascinating figures of the last century. From Coco Chanel to Salvador Dalí, from Marlene Dietrich to Yves Saint Laurent. There is also Luchino Visconti, Karl Lagerfeld and Ingrid Bergman.

Each face is rendered in a unique and unmistakable style. Even those unfamiliar with Horst end up recognising his touch.

A unique opportunity for young photographers

To mark the exhibition, Le Stanze della Fotografia is also launching an open call for photographers under 30.

If you are between 18 and 30 years old and photography is your passion, you can apply by 1 February 2026.

You can find more information on the Le Stanze della Fotografia website.

Those selected will have the opportunity to exhibit their work during the Horst exhibition. An extraordinary opportunity to engage in dialogue with one of the giants of photographic history.

Come and discover grace that becomes image

If you are looking for an exhibition that will leave you speechless, if you love photography or if you simply want to lose yourself in the beauty of a coherent and powerful vision, Horst P. Horst. The Geometry of Grace is the perfect place to go.

Exhibition information

HORST P. HORST. THE GEOMETRY OF GRACE

Curated by Anne Morin in collaboration with Denis Curti

Le Stanze della Fotografia

Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice

from 21 February to 5 July 2026

Tickets: available online now.

Don’t let anyone tell you what the exhibition is like. Go and see it for yourself and I promise you’ll come back with new eyes.