Exhibition 'Portrait of a City' Captures a Century of American Photography
The Dulwich Picture Gallery in London presents 'Portrait of a City: A Century of American Photography,' featuring over 100 landmark works by 20th-century photographers that document the rapid urban expansion and shape our collective understanding of the American city.
Exhibition 'Portrait of a City' Captures a Century of American Photography
Until October 4, the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London is hosting 'Portrait of a City: A Century of American Photography,' an exhibition that brings together more than 100 iconic works by some of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. The show illustrates how rapid urban growth propelled the camera as a tool to document changing conditions, offering a compelling visual narrative of a nation in motion.
Featured photographers include Peter Hujar, Garry Winogrand, Edward Steichen, Lewis Hine, Saul Leiter, Robert Adams, Mary Ellen Mark, Walker Evans, and John Gutmann, each presenting a unique perspective on American urban life.
Edward Steichen’s 1932 photograph of the Empire State Building used double exposure to exaggerate its height, transforming the skyscraper into a modern ambition spectacle. Saul Leiter focused on everyday moments that most people would overlook, creating a quiet and personal vision of New York that went largely unrecognized during his lifetime.
Peter Hujar, openly gay at a time when queer lives were criminalized, documented New York’s queer and bohemian communities. His 1985 work 'Richie' reflects the loss and heightened awareness during the AIDS crisis. Garry Winogrand, known for his rapid shooting style and tilted horizons, was a central figure in redefining American street photography.
Walker Evans, working during the Great Depression, employed a detached approach to document urban and rural America. His 1938 book 'American Photographs' defined the photobook genre. John Gutmann, influenced by Bauhaus ideas, captured migrants traveling west from the Great Plains during the Depression.
Mary Ellen Mark’s photograph of a homeless family in Los Angeles is part of her series on homelessness in the United States. Arthur Leipzig, a member of the Photo League, documented young New Yorkers jumping into the East River in 1948, capturing play against the city’s infrastructure.
Curator Alexander Moore notes that photography has shaped our collective understanding of the American city. All works are on loan from The Savings Bank Foundation DNB, on deposit to the Lillehammer Art Museum and Drammens Museum.
