This catalog presents a fascinating collection of photographs by Helen Levitt (1913–2009), a pioneer in street photography. The American photographer began capturing street scenes in her hometown of New York in the late 1930s, with an unerring sense and empathy for the mystery and ironic humor of everyday life. Her photographs depicted urban life, particularly children playing in the streets. Helen Levitt took her camera to the city’s poorest neighborhoods, including Hispanic Harlem and the Lower East Side.
In addition to the works included in the exhibition, the essays in this 320-page catalog analyze Levitt’s influence on documentary photography and her commitment to a feminist perspective on urban life.