Could anything be better than vintage costumes shot against iconic New York City backgrounds? Only if the photographer involved is the legendary Bill Cunningham. We're in luck—the New-York Historical Society Museum and Library is re-debuting 88 of his early photographs in Bill Cunningham: Façades, an exhibition opening in March. According to the museum's website, the famed New York Times style section photographer launched an 8-year project in the late 1960s where he "paired models—in particular his muse, fellow photographer Editta Sherman—in period costumes with historic settings."
Though Cunningham's photo essay differs (and predates) his New York Times street style column that has come to define our Sundays, the two can look delightfully similar at times, like when he photographs events like the Frederick Law Olmsted awards luncheon of the Women's Committee of the Central Park Conservancy, or parties like Tiffany & Co's launch of its new Jazz Age-inspired jewelry line. It all serves as a reminder of the particular kind of artist Cunningham has always been: one who toes the line between realism and fantasy in the most intriguing of ways. Check out some photographs that will appear in the exhibit, courtesy of the New-York Historical Society Museum and Library, below.
Bill Cunningham, BowerySavings Bank, New York City, ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Central Park bridge, New York City, ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, "21" Club, New York City, ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Unknown artist. Bill Cunningham Photographing Models, New York County Court House, ca. 1975. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society
Bill Cunningham, Editta Sherman on the Subway, ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Federal Hall, New York City, ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, GM Building, New York City, ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Grand Central Terminal, New York City, ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Rockefeller Center, New York City, ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham