About the artist
John Deakin, revered for his iconic 20th-century portraits, succeeded August Sander and paved the way for Diane Arbus, epitomizing the concept of the 'poète maudit'. His photographic prowess combined brutal honesty with psychological depth, creating riveting and sometimes unnerving images. No matter if he was capturing images of writers, artists, models, Hollywood stars for British Vogue in the late '40s and early '50s, or encapsulating his artistic acquaintances in London's Soho, Deakin showed no flattery towards his subjects. His portraits, hauntingly lit from above, exuded vulnerability. His friend, painter Francis Bacon, was intrigued by Deakin's austere approach, leading him to commission several portraits. Deakin suffered financial struggles and lacked commercial success. After his death, only a handful of admirers have preserved his neglected works some of which have now been published.
