Fashion photo show focuses on portrayal of women

Photos taken by Peter Lindbergh is among shown images at Coming into Fashion, an exhibition reviewing fashion and fashion photography over the past century. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Herschdorfer says that when she conceived of the exhibition, she tried to forget about the history and the big names in photography.

She says the concept of the show is to focus on the "almost timeless" aspect of fashion photography and to show it in a "very strong way".

"It may sound contradictory because fashion should be about today and the images are for now," says Herschdorfer.

"But when people see photos from the 1940s, they still find them appealing."

She adds that the photos also show what society felt about women in different eras.

"It is not what a woman looks like in real life, but how time expects a woman to be represented."

The exhibition highlights company founder Conde Montrose Nast's belief that it is artists who produce powerful images.