Gifting fine art photography for birthdays or parties is an original and thoughtful idea. Art, in addition to being a gift of quality, imperishable and poetic, adapts to everyone. The GADCOLLECTION Gallery offers a wide choice of original art photographs, numbered and signed by the artists, to be found here . 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. Girls in the Windows”, 1960 is an image not only about beauty, fashion and the ingenious orchestration of 43 women standing at the windows and on the sidewalk, some daringly climbing onto the window sills. It is also a slice of time in history, as it captures a row of three classic New York Brownstones, which were demolished the day after the shoot. Gigli, who lived across the street, wanted to immortalize the buildings and thus envisioned the photograph. His meticulous planning and direction resulted in a dramatically compelling and memorable artwork. The next morning I was in the studio, on East 58th Street between First and Second Avenue, and had the feeling that it wasn't going to work out. Then my assistant came in and said: "Ormond, you'd better get the camera up on the fire escape. There are people filling up the windows and more coming in taxis." All of a sudden it was happening.

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... 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 ”. Ormond Gigli – Demolition begins at what is now 320 East 58th Street, New York, 1960 “Girls in the Windows” Over the YearsHe reached out to a modeling agency that he had worked for, and asked for models to volunteer to be in his ‘dream’ picture. They were to wear what they wanted and show up over the lunch hour. 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. 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. 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

In the end, Ormond gathered 43 women clad in their best formal wear and no two figures looked exactly alike; the posture and outfit each woman assumed alludes to what her personality might be like outside the confines of the photograph. No two figures looked exactly alike; the posture and outfit each woman assumed alludes to what her personality might be like outside the confines of the photograph. I have a big print of it up on my wall. I still smile whenever I look at it, even after all these years. Not bad. CV 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.

The Making of the Image

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. Assembling the 43 women for the photograph was no small feat. Gigli sought models, actresses, and even his wife to participate in the shoot. Each woman was dressed in elegant, colorful attire, highlighting the diverse beauty and charm of New York City’s inhabitants. Gigli’s attention to detail and eye for aesthetics ensured the women complimented the brownstones’ classic architecture, resulting in a stunning and harmonious composition. I had a great staff there [at my studio], so I’m discussing it with my studio manager – if we could get the frames out of the windows, we could shoot a girl in each window. So I had my studio manager go to talk the head demolition guy, and he said “yes, but you have to put my wife in the shot!”

Through the years, Gigli shot Sophia Loren, Anita Ekberg, John F. Kennedy, Gina Lollabrigida, Diana Vreeland, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, Laurence Olivier, Alan Bates, and Richard Burton among others. 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. 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. His career took off in 1952. He was working at this moment for the Rapho photo agency, when a LIFE editor enlisted him to do a series of celebrity portraits in replacement of Robert CAPA. This very same year LIFE assigned Ormond GIGLI t... 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

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. In the world of photography, some images transcend time, leaving an indelible mark on history. One such iconic photograph is Ormond Gigli’s “Girls in the Windows,” taken in 1960. This captivating image showcases 43 elegantly dressed women in 41 windows across the classic New York City brownstone facade. Over the years, this striking photograph has become Gigli’s most celebrated work. He hadn’t the money to pay for professional models – or an access to a budget for a picture that had no sponsorship. 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.