In Helmut Newton’s living room

taketonews

June and Helmut's “living room” – a compilation of furniture, books, pictures and other decorative objects from the Newtons' private collection

June and Helmut’s “living room” – a compilation of furniture, books, pictures and other decorative objects from the Newtons’ private collection Photo: Christoph Michaelis

By Claudia von Duehren

Devoutly Matthias Harder (54) takes a seat on the red leather sofa. Then the star photographer took a nap and his wife lounged while reading. BZ visit in the living room of Helmut and June Newton.

A 60 square meter room has now been set up in the Newton Foundation with furniture, carpets, books and art from the Newtons’ apartment in Monte Carlo.

After Newton’s death in 2004, the foundation received the photographic estate of the star photographer and has been the sole heir of the childless couple since June Newton’s death in April 2021. Born in Berlin, Helmut Newton wanted his work to come to his native city. This also included the furnishings from his last home. “Of course we couldn’t fit everything here, because the apartment in Monaco was 300 square meters,” explains Matthias Harder.

Matthias Harder with a portrait of Helmut (1920-2004) and June (1923-2021) Newton

Matthias Harder with a portrait of Helmut (1920-2004) and June (1923-2021) Newton Photo: Christoph Michaelis

The director of the Newton Foundation, based in Jebensstraße, often visited Monaco. “Helmut and June bought the apartment with a sea view in one of the high-rise towers in the 80s. The foundation has now sold it and brought the entire interior to Berlin,” reveals Harder. The art historian set up the salon in the Foundation with the couple in mind. “High meets low, art meets kitsch, that’s how you could describe Newton’s furnishing style,” he explains.

Images of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein contrast with plastic dinosaurs and garden gnomes. In terms of time, too, the interior is a journey from 19th-century modernism to pop art. BZ explains the secrets from the Newtons’ living room.

THIS is the Newtons’ living room

  1. The lithograph “Vesuvio” (1985) by Andy Warhol adorns the wall opposite the window front
  2. The shelf with colorful triangular shelves was designed by Ettore Sottsass. Newton kept literary classics and photo volumes in it
  3. The picture of pop art icon Roy Lichtenstein hangs above the desk with the plastic dinosaur. An example of the Newtons’ tongue-in-cheek interior design style. They liked to mix kitsch and souvenirs from their travels into high-quality art
  4. Helmut Newton was allowed to keep Prada’s black handbag in 1985 after the photo shoot for a Prada ad. The photo was taken in the underground car park in Monaco. The model is apparently dead on the ground after a robbery, with banknotes spilling out of the pocket
  5. The Lucy was awarded to Helmut Newton shortly after his death in January 2004. His innovative fashion photography, which combined fashion with sex and theater, was particularly highlighted
  6. The sign with the sentence “A Gun for Hire” (contract killer) made Helmut Newton his working motto, after all photography was called “shooting” in English. It was also the title of the first exhibition in Monte Carlo after his death
  7. Helmut Newton was fascinated by Franz von Stuck’s bronze “Amazone” (1897). The image of the strong femme fatale made his photographic work legendary
  8. After her husband Helmut photographed her with Brigitte Bardot’s cheetah, June painted the big cat in oils. From 1965 to 1970, the native Australian began painting in Paris because the language there meant she could no longer work as an actress
  9. The glass ashtray has been used a lot. Helmut had smoked more than two packs, but then stopped. June smoked almost to the end of her life
  10. The wall lamp with oak leaves and red and green light bulbs comes from the Milanese designer Ettore Sottsass
  11. June was particularly taken with the historical bust. Where it came from and who created it is unknown. She moved several times with the couple and June stated in her will that she should be exhibited in Berlin
  12. The painter Bernd Zimmer created the large-format painting with the bull. He belonged to the artist group Die Junge Wilden – THE group of artists in Berlin in the 1970s and 1980s. Newton bought it back in the 80s. June had to pose in front of the color-intensive image with very colorful clothing so that Helmut could try out new color films
  13. The couple combined the plaster Statue of Liberty with a watch by the designer Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007)
  14. The rolling side table with two glass shelves is also a creation of Newton’s favorite designer Ettore Sottsass
Subjects:

Berlin Culture Helmut Newton International Stars

ttn-27