The Work of Director Anton Corbijn

Before music videos became mini action movies with budgets the size of small countries, Anton Corbijn was making artists look impossibly cool with little more than black-and-white film, striking locations and an eye for the perfect image. The Work of Director Anton Corbijn collects many of his most celebrated music videos, showcasing the visual style that helped define the public image of artists such as U2, Depeche Mode, Joy Division, Nirvana, Nick Cave and Metallica.

Watching this collection is like flipping through a beautifully worn alternative-music scrapbook from the late twentieth century. Corbijn's videos often feel less interested in explaining a song than creating a mood you can live inside for a few minutes. Desert landscapes, grainy photography, strange characters and unforgettable imagery appear throughout, proving why he became one of the most influential visual artists in music. Stylish without being flashy and artistic without disappearing up its own backside, this collection is an essential document of the era when music television still felt genuinely exciting.