America Street photography

alfred stieglitz: terminal (1892)

walker evans worked 1938 1941 on series in new york subway in order practice pure record method of photography; candid portraits of people unconsciously come range before impersonal fixed recording machine during time period . recording machine hidden camera , 35 mm contax concealed beneath coat, strapped chest , connected long wire strung down right sleeve . however, work had little contemporary impact due evans sensitivities originality of project , privacy of subjects, not published until 1966, in book many called, introduction written james agee in 1940. work exhibited walker evans subway photographs , other recent acquisitions held @ national gallery of art, 1991-1992, accompanied catalogue walker evans: subways , streets.

helen levitt, teacher of young children, associated evans in 1938-39. documented transitory chalk drawings part of children s street culture in new york @ time, children made them. in july 1939, moma s new photography section included levitt s work in inaugural exhibition. in 1943, nancy newhall curated first solo exhibition helen levitt: photographs of children there. photographs published in 1987 in street: chalk drawings , messages, new york city 1938–1948.

the beginnings of street photography in united states can linked of jazz, both emerging outspoken depictions of everyday life. connection visible in work of new york school of photography (not confused new york school). new york school of photography not formal institution, rather comprised groups of photographers in mid-20th century based in new york city. robert frank s 1958 book, americans, significant; raw , out of focus, frank s images questioned mainstream photography of time, challenged formal rules laid down henri cartier-bresson , walker evans , flew in face of wholesome pictorialism , heartfelt photojournalism of american magazines life , time . mainstream photography community in america fiercely rejected frank s work, book later changed nature of photography, , how . stepping stone fresh photographers looking break away restrictions of old style , remains perhaps influential photography book of 20th century .