In 1975, Garry Gross—an established commercial photographer who had studied under industry legends like Lisette Model and Richard Avedon—conceived a conceptual project. His goal was to capture what he described as the "flirtatiousness" and "coquettishness" he observed in young girls, attempting to document "the woman within the child".
The mid-1970s was a period marked by shifting cultural boundaries regarding sexuality and artistic expression. In 1975, Gross conceptualized a photo shoot intended to explore what he termed the "coquettishness" and "woman within the child". garry gross the woman in the child full
Gross worked for three decades as a fashion and commercial photographer. His work appeared on the covers of , and he shot portraits of celebrities including Calvin Klein, Gloria Steinem, Whitney Houston, and Lou Reed. One of his best-known commercial images became the cover of Lou Reed‘s 1979 album “The Bells,” which shows Reed holding a hand mirror but not looking into it. In 1975, Gross conceptualized a photo shoot intended
As Brooke Shields’ career transitioned from child model to Hollywood star, the existence of these photos became a significant legal and personal hurdle. In 1981, Shields sued Gross in an attempt to stop the further use and publication of the images. One of his best-known commercial images became the