Helene Levitt

Born on August 31, 1913, in Bensonhurst, a vibrant neighborhood of Brooklyn, Helen Levitt became an iconic figure in street photography, immortalizing the daily life of New Yorkers through her artistic lens. Her passion for imagery ignited at the age of seventeen when she began working for a commercial photographer in the Bronx. This apprenticeship allowed her to immerse herself in the world of photography.

In the 1930s, Levitt discovered her first Leica, a tool that would become an extension of her vision. In 1938, her encounter with Henri Cartier-Bresson and her mentorship under Walker Evans marked a pivotal turning point in her career. These meetings not only shaped her technique but also nourished her humanistic approach, urging her to capture the beauty of fleeting moments and human interactions.

Her photographs, primarily taken in the streets of Harlem, Brooklyn, and the Lower East Side, reveal a world where children play, teenagers pose, and adults navigate the challenges of their daily lives. Levitt does not merely represent reality; she infuses a vibrant poetry into her images, blending drama with lightness, seriousness with humor. Her snapshots of abandoned shoes on the sidewalk or children hiding under cars evoke the theater of urban life, where every street corner becomes a stage for improvisation.

Recognition of her talent soon materialized. In 1943, Levitt had a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where her work was acclaimed for its sensitivity and originality. Her career then took a turn when she ventured into filmmaking, creating avant-garde films that extended her exploration of themes related to childhood and urban life. Her films, such as “The Quiet One” and “Savage Eye,” reflect her unique perspective on the world.

Despite facing challenges, including the theft of her early color works in the 1970s, Levitt did not allow herself to be discouraged. She resumed her work with renewed fervor, and in 1974, the MoMA organized a continuous screening of her color photographs, attesting to her resilience and commitment to art. In 1976, she was awarded the honorary title of “Photography Fellow” by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Helen Levitt passed away on March 29, 2009, in New York, at the venerable age of ninety-five. This artist captured the very essence of New York, offering a lyrical and non-stereotypical vision of urban life.