Girls in the Windows, New York City, 1960 Photo Print 12x12"

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Ormond GIGLI was born in New York City in 1925 within a modest family. The photographic journey started when, still a teenager, his father offered him his first camera. Ormond GIGLI is fond of photography. After the class, he worked as an assistant for several photographers. Thanks to that he met the fashion world through Wilhela CUSHMAN, fashion editor for the Ladie’s Home Journal. He graduated from the School of Modern Photography in 1942 and served in the Navy as a photographer during World War 2. He spent some time living a bohemian life in France: “ I lived the life of a penniless artist in Paris… and it was a wonderful place to be ”.

Gigli’s career took off in 1952 when a LIFE editor hired him to do a series of celebrity portraits and to cover the Paris fashion shows. He garnered attention when one of his pictures was published in the center spread of the magazine. It started a fashion photographer career of more than four decades. It was shot on a 4×5 Speed Graphic – which I seldom used – with a wide angle lens. And I did about, I’m guessing here, 15 or 18 shots.

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On the day of the shoot, Gigli and his team faced the challenge of coordinating and posing the women in the windows. This required precise timing and communication, as the women were positioned across multiple floors and windows of the brownstones. Gigli used a walkie-talkie to direct the models, adjusting their poses to create the perfect visual balance. The photograph was taken using a large format camera, capturing the richness and detail of the scene. Most professional photographers dream of having one signature picture they are known for. “Girls in the Windows” is mine. Ormond Gigli, a renowned photojournalist, meticulously planned and executed this extraordinary project. The idea came to him when he noticed that the beautiful brownstone buildings across from his Manhattan studio were scheduled for demolition. He envisioned capturing the elegance and sophistication of these architectural gems before they disappeared forever. With a clear vision, Gigli embarked on a mission to create a visual masterpiece.

Throughout his career, Ormond Gigli captured countless beauty, drama, and humanity moments. Yet, “Girls in the Windows” remains his most iconic and cherished work. This image is a testament to Gigli’s artistic prowess and ability to create a captivating visual narrative that resonates with viewers. There is a well-used adage that says there are reasons for everything. This is certainly true for why Ormond Gigli’s photograph, “The Girls in the Windows” is one of the most beloved pictures in photographic history. It achieves what a great fashion photograph has the potential to do. It effortlessly and gracefully merges the worlds of fashion and fantasy to create a photograph that transcends time and captures the imagination of collectors with its freshness, spontaneity, and uniqueness. Daydreaming

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The photograph’s popularity and enduring appeal can be attributed to its unique composition, captivating colors, and intriguing stories of the women in the windows. The image has become a symbol of the city’s resilience and vibrancy, showcasing the diversity and strength of its inhabitants. “Girls in the Windows” has been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide, solidifying its status as a classic work of art. Gigli was born in New York City in 1925. As a teenager, his father offered him his first camera. He graduated from the School of Modern Photography in 1942 and served in the Navy as a photographer during World War II. He spent some time living the bohemian life in Paris. Ormond is cantilevered out on the fire escape of his studio – shooting with a wide angled lens. Here was a chance to realize his dream. In his desire of breathe to life and energy into a building that would soon be gone, he created a picture that 60 years later is as vibrant and original as it was when it appeared behind the ground glass of his camera lens.

Fine art photography makes an ideal gift for friends, relatives, and family. Indeed, offering a photo is not just making a present of an object but opening a window on r... This is how Ormond Gigli recalls the story (according to Time magazine): In 1960, while a construction crew dismantled a row of brownstones right across from my own brownstone studio on East 58th Street, I was inspired to, somehow, immortalize those buildings. I had the vision of 43 women in formal dress adorning the windows of the skeletal facade.In 1960, photojournalist Ormond Gigli assembled 43 women, dressed them in refined, colorful garb, and situated them in 41 windows across the facade of the classic New York City brownstones. Years later, the image ended up being his most famous artwork. I was set up on my fire escape across the street, directing the scene, with a bullhorn in hand. Of course, I was concerned for the Models’ safety, as some were daring enough to pose out on the crumbling sills.

In addition to the photograph’s artistic merits, “Girls in the Windows” has also become an influential piece in fashion photography. The image’s stylish subjects, dressed in eye-catching outfits, have inspired countless fashion editorials and campaigns, showcasing the timeless appeal of Gigli’s vision.Girls in the Windows” is not just a visually stunning image; it’s also a snapshot of a bygone era. The photograph encapsulates the glamour and allure of 1960s New York City. The stylishly dressed women, juxtaposed against the soon-to-be-demolished brownstones, evoke a sense of nostalgia and wistfulness for a time when these buildings were a prominent feature of the cityscape. Intent on capturing the beauty of the buildings before it was gone for good, the artist set to work on crafting the perfect image to memorialize the neighborhood he had come to love so well. Decades later, the image has stood the test of time. Immortalizing the time and place, the photograph achieves exactly what Gigli intended and preserves the spirit of the city perfectly in a brief, colorful scene. A short biography Perched from the fire escape of his studio, he was able to capture action happening across five floors. The final product proved to be something surreal, reducing the living, breathing women to brightly colored toys in a doll house.