Helen Levitt

Description

Helen Levitt (1913–2009) is one of the defining voices of American photography in the 20th century. Born in Brooklyn, she found her main subject in the streets of New York. Since the 1930s, she observed urban life in Harlem and the Lower East Side in all its spontaneity, poetry, and contradictions. Children and their chalk drawings left on walls and sidewalks became recurring subjects. Levitt was a member of the Photo League, worked with Walker Evans, and was influenced by Henri Cartier-Bresson. She is among the early pioneers of color photography. Her work as a filmmaker and editor, including collaborations with Luis Buñuel, sharpened her sense of rhythm and storytelling. Her images of New York also give a visual expression to the darker side of the American Dream, shaped by migration, poverty, and improvisation. For the first time, the complete archive is available: early Leica prints, fifty works from A Way of Seeing, and extensive archival material. The exhibition is a collaboration with Fundación MAPFRE, curated by Joshua Chuang. Participants and additional information: Helen Levitt

Highlights

• Complete archive of Helen Levitt for the first time
• Collaboration with Fundación MAPFRE
• Extensive collection of Leica prints and archival material

General Information

The exhibition at the Fotomuseum Winterthur is dedicated to the work of Helen Levitt, a significant photographer of the 20th century. It showcases her unique perspectives on urban life in New York and offers a deep insight into her artistic development.

Location

Grüzenstrasse 44, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland

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