René Burri

René Burri

portrait and interview by OLIVIER ZAHM
with a portfolio designed by COMME DES GARÇONS

 

Fifty years ago, as a freelancer for Magnum, René Burri helped change photojournalism. His pictures, such as the iconic portrait of Che Guevara, offer an alternative to the official record of political and historic events. A little luck and an extensive knowledge of art allowed Burri access to some of the most prestigious and important artists of his time, a rarefied list that includes Le Corbusier, Niemeyer, Giacometti, and Picasso, all of whose portraits he took repeatedly over the years.

This season, Comme des Garçons’s creator Rei Kawakubo invited Burri to collaborate on her company’s publications and announcements.

For Purple’s 20th anniversary issue, she designed an original four-page portfolio — published on the following pages — with Burri’s photographs of China.

 

OLIVIER ZAHM — How did…