Madonna’s “Vogue” music video was inspired visually by Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Directed by David Fincher, the black-and-white video presents Madonna and her dancers in poses influenced by classic Hollywood portraiture and studio photography. Its visual language also foregrounded voguing, a dance style associated with New York’s ballroom culture.
The video is sometimes described simply as a recreation of old Hollywood. That misses its connection to ballroom performance and its deliberate combination of glamour, choreography, and fashion photography.
“Vogue” was released in 1990 as a single from the soundtrack album I’m Breathless. The song became one of Madonna’s biggest international hits and helped bring voguing to a worldwide pop audience.