9.21.2014

SAUL LEITER: Early Black and White Photography from the 1940's and 50's

Jean, c. 1948
Courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery

Scarf, c.1948
Courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery

Debra and Regina, c.1948
Courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery

‘He has a rapturous way with color, which stems from his love of the masters of modern art,’ writes Max Kozloff in the introduction to "Saul Leiter: Early Black and White." ‘But his black and white production is just as indebted to lessons he learned from those same masters.’

Saul Leiter 
to October 25, 2014

Saul Leiter, presented by Howard Greenberg Gallery, represents the first solo show of the artist’s early black and white photography from the 1940s and 50s, focus's on more than 40 images including many unique prints that have never before been exhibited. Leiter made an enormous and unique contribution to photography with a highly prolific period in New York City in the 1940s and 50s. His abstracted forms and radically innovative compositions have a painterly quality that stands out among the work of his New York School contemporaries. Well-known for his color work, Leiter’s earliest black and white photographs also show an extraordinary affinity for the medium. His distinctive imagery stems from his profound and touching response to the dynamic street life of New York City. This show includes the artist’s iconic street photography and intimate portraits of friends and family.

The exhibition coincides with the publication of "Saul Leiter: Early Black and White" a two-volume monograph published by Steidl / Howard Greenberg Library, a new imprint at Steidl. With text by Max Kozolff and an additional essay by Jane Livingston, the volumes show the impressive range of Leiter’s early photography.


From Wedding as a Funeral, c.1951
Courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery

LIFE Magazine, September 3, 1951
"Saul Leiter, who is a young free-lance photographer, spends a great deal of his time searching for incongruity...."text accompanying Leiter's award winning "Young Photographers Contest" spread in Life Magazine, displayed at Howard Greenberg Gallery.

Saul Leiter's 1951 LIFE Magazine "Young Photographers Contest" Entries displayed at Howard Greenberg Gallery.

Wedding as a Funeral, c.1951

Saul Leiter 
41 East 57 St NY NY
to October 25, 2014 

Many thanks to Howard Greenberg Gallery for images and text

5 comments:

Thérèse said...

The Saul Leiter's exhibit in Toulouse, France right now has been made available by the same Howard Greenberg Gallery...

Les Taylor said...

You can not beat good old black and white photography.

Unknown said...

These are just wonderful images by a man with incredible insight. Does it really matter so much that they are "good ole black and white" His work in color supports that. A great image stands alone!

Rocco Ceselin said...

Thank you for the post. I just saw the documentary about him. So inspirational

Unknown said...

Your interview with Howard Greenberg stays with me