Alexander Liberman's portraits

Alexander Liberman is probably best known as an art director, managing editor and eventually editorial director at Condé Nast Publications. But he was also a fine painter and sculptor, and a wonderful photographer. Here are some of my favourite portraits by Liberman.

Jean Tinguely by Alexander Liberman, 1964

Lee Miller by Alexander Liberman, 1947

Helmut Newton by Alexander Liberman, 1995

Irving Penn by Alexander Liberman, 1950. Penn was Liberman's assistant; he sent Penn on his first fashion shoots for Vogue, and encouraged him to take his first colour photographs.

Niki de Saint-Phalle by Alexander Liberman, c. 1964-67

Dorothea Tanning by Alexander Liberman, 1959

Agnes Martin by Alexander Liberman, 1973

Brassaï by Alexander Liberman, 1963

Janet Gaynor and Adrian by Alexander Liberman, c. 1942. The movie star and costume designer were married from 1939 until Adrian's death in 1959.

Hans Hartung by Alexander Liberman, c. 1959-61

Truman Capote by Alexander Liberman, c. 1965-69

Jasper Johns by Alexander Liberman, 1977

Yves Saint Laurent by Alexander Liberman, undated

A great Alexander Liberman shot from the home life of Irving Penn, the model Lisa Fonssagrives and their son Tom.

Tom Penn seems to have received a Rolleiflex camera for his birthday! He became a metal designer later in life. What a nice shot by Alexander Liberman!

Barnett Newman by Alexander Liberman, 1960s

Robert Rauschenberg in his studio, by Alexander Liberman, 1965

A great Alexander Liberman shot of the gallerist Betty Parsons, from 1963, with Barnett Newman paintings in the background.

And this,  I think, is that very exhibition, of paintings by Newman & Liberman. Jon Naar's photo of Alexander Liberman & Barnett Newman at Betty Parsons' gallery in 1963.

Joseph Brodsky by Alexander Liberman, 1991

Mark Rothko's hand, by Alexander Liberman, 1964

Cecil Beaton by Alexander Liberman, 1965