Agha

Mehemed Fehmy (1896-1978) was one of the 20th century’s most influential magazine art directors. Born in the Ukraine, Agha was educated in Kiev before fleeing the Russian Revolution of 1917. He completed his studies in Paris, and there began his career as an illustrator and photographer at the Dorland Advertising Agency. Aided by his knowledge of five foreign languages (Russian, French, Turkish, English and German), he began submitting illustrations to various foreign magazines, and was hired by German Vogue in 1928. Publisher Condé Nast brought him to America the following year where he became art director of Vogue, House & Garden and Vanity Fair. Agha’s groundbreaking approach to graphics, typeface and covers changed not only the look but also the essence of fashion and lifestyle magazines. He was bold in his use of bleed photographs and duotone, sans serif type and asymmetrical photo placement, and was also at the forefront of working with celebrated artists and photographers such as Cecil Beaton. Agha retired from Condé Nast Publications in 1943, and was succeeded by his former assistant Alexander Lieberman.