Helen Levitt

Artist text follows.

 

More information on the body of work:

For decades, New York-born photographer Helen Levitt photographed the hustle and bustle of people on the streets of her hometown. Most of her images were taken in East Harlem and the Lower East Side, mainly home to New York City’s poorer population in the 1940s. She particularly enjoyed photographing children playing and romping around. At that time, their daily activities took place mainly on the streets. The strength of Levitt’s photographs lies in her keen sense for the “right moment”: she used her camera to capture the surprising or bizarre moments she discovered everywhere. A passionate observer, Helen Levitt is considered one of the most important figures in street photography today, as her images reveal the extraordinary in the ordinary.

 

Biographical information

1913

born in Brooklyn, New York City, USA

1938

works as an assistant for American photographer Walker Evans

1959 - 1960

receives the fellowship of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, New York City

1997

receives the Master of Photography Award of International Center of Photography (ICP), New York City

2009

dies in New York City, USA