F.C.Gundlach

Mirella Petteni, Oslo 1963

Hand-signed silver gelatin print, printed later 2008

Edition number 4/7 and signature in pencil are verso

F.C. Gundlach’s Mirella Petteni, Oslo, 1963 is a striking example of the photographer’s ability to transform a fashion image into something cinematic, graphic and unexpected.

Photographed outdoors beneath a dramatic Scandinavian sky, model Mirella Petteni kneels in a field wearing a parachute harness and helmet. Behind her, the open parachute forms an extraordinary geometric backdrop, almost like a halo surrounding her figure. Fashion, movement and adventure come together in a composition that feels carefully staged yet full of tension.

Gundlach was known for taking fashion photography beyond the studio. Rather than treating clothing as the sole subject, he placed his models within architectural, natural and often unconventional environments. Here, the contrast between Petteni’s composed presence, the technical equipment and the windswept landscape creates an image with a distinctly modern attitude.

Created in Oslo in 1963, the photograph reflects the changing spirit of fashion during the early 1960s. The elegant, controlled imagery of the previous decade was giving way to a new sense of independence, experimentation and movement.

More than sixty years later, Mirella Petteni, Oslo retains its visual impact. The bold symmetry of the parachute, dramatic sky and confident central figure make this one of those Gundlach photographs where fashion becomes a story in its own right.

SIZE

23.5 x 19.75 in (59.69 x 50.16 cm)

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

Each print purchase comes with a certificate of authenticity from LIGHTWORKS.