In the first half of the twentieth century, the American magazine Vogue distinguished itself not only for its reporting on the world of haute couture but also by serving as a beacon of culture and a pioneer in the publication of modern photography.
Founded in 1892 as a small weekly society journal, the magazine was acquired in 1909 by the publishing entrepreneur Condé Nast, who built it up as the centerpiece of his magazine empire. Believing that a fashion magazine should address an informed, forward-thinking, affluent audience, Nast transformed Vogue; he hired artists and photographers of great talent to illustrate the magazine and published articles about contemporary art, theater, literature, and photography.
Nast engaged his audience with alluring portraits of celebrities and figures from the Social Register, creating an elite aura. The portraits were always photographs, with more focused compositions and stylized elegance than was usual in the profession. In 1914 Baron