Tatjana Patitz, Original Supermodel and California Native, Passes Away at 56

Tatjana Patitz, one of the original supermodels of the 80s and 90s, passed away at the age of 56. Patitz, who was known for her unique beauty and mysterious allure, made a name for herself in the highly competitive world of modeling, and was a favorite of photographers such as Peter Lindbergh, Herb Ritts, and Patrick Demarchelier.

Unlike many of her peers, Patitz chose to make her home in California, where she could be closer to nature and her animals. Anna Wintour, chief content officer of Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue, remembered Patitz as "the European symbol of chic, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti," and said that "she was far less visible than her peers—more mysterious, more grown-up, more unattainable—and that had its own appeal."

Patitz had long-standing working relationships with Lindbergh, Ritts, and Demarchelier, who often shot her on location. Her more recent appearances in Vogue were family affairs.

The model was reunited with her peers for “Good Jeans,” a supermodels-in-denim story shot by Annie Leibovitz. In 2012, Patitz and her son Jonah Johnson were captured in a pastoral idyll at home on their ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley by Lindbergh. Again in 2019, the mother and son made an appearance in a Tina Barney portfolio. Patitz declared last year that her son Jonah was her "source of happiness."

Patitz's passing is a loss for the fashion industry and for those who were touched by her unique beauty and enigmatic presence. She will be remembered as one of the original supermodels who helped define an era in fashion.