Helen Levitt
Helen Levitt (1913-2009) was an American photographer renowned for her pioneering work in street photography. Her candid, unposed images captured the essence of daily life in New York City, particularly in working-class neighborhoods. Levitt's keen eye for composition, her ability to convey emotion through her images, and her unique perspective on urban life have earned her a prominent place in the history of photography.
Early Life and Career
Helen Levitt was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1913. She became interested in photography at a young age and taught herself the craft while working in a commercial portrait studio. In the 1930s, Levitt was introduced to the work of French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, who inspired her to adopt a more candid, observational approach to photography.
Levitt began photographing the streets of New York City, focusing on the everyday lives of its residents, especially children. In 1943, her work was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) alongside that of Walker Evans and Ben Shahn. This marked the beginning of a long and successful career that spanned over six decades.
Photographic Style and Techniques
Helen Levitt's street photography is characterized by its unobtrusive, candid nature. She captured everyday scenes and moments, often focusing on the interactions and relationships between people, particularly children at play. Her images portray a sense of spontaneity, humor, and humanity, offering a unique window into the lives of her subjects.
Levitt was known for her ability to blend into the urban environment and observe life unfolding around her without disturbing it. She preferred to work in black and white, which allowed her to focus on the rich textures and contrasts within her images. Later in her career, she also experimented with color photography, further expanding her visual language.
Career Highlights
In 1943, Helen Levitt's work was featured in a group exhibition at the MoMA, launching her career as a respected photographer.
Levitt's photographs were published in several influential books, including "A Way of Seeing" (1965) and "In the Street: Chalk Drawings and Messages, New York City" (1987).
Throughout her career, Levitt received numerous awards and accolades, including Guggenheim Fellowships and a National Endowment for the Arts grant.
Levitt's work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Photography Gear
Helen Levitt used a variety of photography gear throughout her career, including:
35mm cameras: Levitt favored compact 35mm cameras like the Leica for their unobtrusive nature and ease of use. These cameras allowed her to work quickly and discreetly, capturing candid moments without drawing attention to herself.
Wide-angle lenses: Levitt often used wide-angle lenses to capture the dynamic, bustling environment of the streets. This choice of lens also allowed her to be physically closer to her subjects, which contributed to the intimate, engaging nature of her images.
Black and white film: In the early stages of her career, Levitt primarily used black and white film. This medium allowed her to focus on the composition, contrast, and texture within her images, rather than being distracted by color.
Color film: Later in her career, Helen Levitt began experimenting with color film, creating a new visual language that expanded on her earlier work. Color photography added a new dimension to her images, allowing her to capture the vibrant atmosphere of New York City streets in a different way.
Photography Books
"Helen Levitt": This self-titled compilation features seven decades of New York City street life, as well as Levitt's seminal work in Mexico City. Showcasing iconic and never-before-seen color works, this book captures the essence of her incomparable career.
"One, Two, Three, More": Providing a unique and irreplaceable look at street life in New York City from the mid-1930s to the end of the 1940s, this book contains a majority of previously unpublished photographs that now form part of the standard history of photography.
"Helen Levitt": Accompanying the retrospective at the Albertina Museum, this book features around 130 of Levitt's iconic works, including early, surrealism-influenced photographs, images from Mexico, and clandestinely shot portraits of New York subway passengers.
"Helen Levitt: New York: MoMA One on One Series": Professor Shamoon Zamir provides a close reading of one of Levitt's iconic images, discussing the different registers and contexts of her work while examining the dynamics of class, race, and gender in her photographs.
"Helen Levitt: A Way of Seeing": This ultimate edition of Levitt's classic New York City street photography book features new high-quality reproductions of her images. Supervised by her former assistant Marvin Hoshino, it presents a definitive collection of Levitt's work, capturing the daily lives of New York's youngest denizens.
Quotes
"Since I'm inarticulate, I express myself with images."
"I go where there's a lot of activity. Children used to be outside. Now the streets are empty. People are indoors looking at television or something."
"If it were easy to talk about, I'd be a writer. Since I'm inarticulate, I express myself with images."
"I didn't decide I was going to be a photographer; I just happened to fall into it."
"I liked the streets. I liked the people on the streets. I still do."
Legacy and Influence
Helen Levitt's innovative approach to street photography has left a lasting impact on the field. Her candid, unposed images and unique perspective on urban life have influenced countless photographers, both past and present. Elliott Erwitt, Garry Winogrand, and Vivian Maier are just a few of the notable photographers who have explored similar themes in their work.
Levitt's ability to capture the essence of everyday life in her images and her keen eye for composition and emotion serve as an inspiration for photographers around the world. Her work continues to be celebrated and admired, underscoring the enduring power and relevance of her art.
In conclusion, Helen Levitt's pioneering work in street photography, her unique perspective on urban life, and her lasting influence on photographers worldwide make her an essential figure in the history of photography.