Jean-Paul Goude knows iconic to its core. His work is always unique, eye-catching and a story to be retold again and again. He commits to his vision and doesn’t let judgments stand in the way of his art.

The famous French photographer has been an artist all his life. At one point he used sketches he had done as a child in part of an installation for Printemps’ Mens Department. He launched his career as an illustrator before relocating to NYC.

In 1968 he was asked to be the guest editor on the special edition of Esquire celebrating its 75th issue and a few months later he was asked to take over the magazine as editor full-time. So he relocated to NYC and began his first adventure in print media.

He once revealed in an interview that one of his first apartments in New York was across the way from Andy Warhol’s studio and he used to sneak glances through the windows, gathering inspiration and determination in spades. For several years he lent his artistic vision to Esquire, contributing his surrealist illustrations to the editorial pages.

Arguably his most iconic imagery comes outs of his relationship and collaborations with Grace Jones. The two met in the late 70’s and Jones quickly assimilated Goude into the decadent and wild disco scene.  He began to design stages for her tours and shoot content for her album covers. 

Thusly Jean-Paul Goude found photography as his primary medium. He manipulated a composite image to create a surrealistic depiction of Jones, subverting technological advances as a photographer ahead of his time. He used her as a model in some of his own work as well, including his 1985 Citroën Cx 2 commercial.

Goude, the King of branded content, has never limited himself to a singular medium. And film is another to add to his long list of playthings. He shot and directed commercial shorts Lee Cooper Jeans (he filmed a 10-minute mini opera set to Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring) Perrier, Kodak, Chanel (he put model Vanessa Paradis in a birdcage), etc. He shoots prints campaigns, most consistently for French department store Galeries Lafayette, and even designed the French Bicentennial July 14th parade on the Champ Elysées, in 1989.

Jean-Paul Goude lets himself be inspired by what he sees, and by what is real. He is not afraid of clichés or social niceties, striving to create striking imagery that continues to excite him as a working artist. Long before the Kim Kardashian photoshoot to break the internet Goude was juxtaposing beautiful women with edgy editorial content. He second guesses or asks for permission. He inspires us to be daring. Goude knows what is good.

Check out his stunning work as a film director, expanding his medium to commercial shorts and music videos.