Helen Levitt often commented that the reason she expressed herself through photography was that she was inarticulate with the spoken word. One of the most celebrated photographers of the 20th century among her peers but least known by the public, from a young age she wanted to create art but knew her talents with a paintbrush or a charcoal pencil were limited. She discovered a way to artistically express herself — through the lens of a camera.
Levitt was born in Brooklyn, New York. At 18, she dropped out of high school to work in a portrait photographer’s darkroom — eventually trying her hand at photography. She trained herself to take better compositions by studying paintings in museums around New York and then using her mother’s friends as practice subjects. In 1936, after discovering the works of French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson she purchased her first camera and began to take pictures of neighborhood children making sidewalk chalk drawings.
Levitt took her portfolio to the studio of Walker Evans — another photographer which she admired. Struck by her thoughtful compositions and natural talent, he hired her as his assistant. She began photographing ordinary street life in the lower-class neighborhoods of East Harlem, the Lower East Side and the Garment District in New York City.
In 1939, Levitt’s photographs were published in Fortune magazine. Later that same year, she received a grant from the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Guggenheim Foundation. Seeing a similarity in film noir to what she was trying to capture in black and white photography, she became a film editor. She worked on several films including The Quiet One, an Academy Award nominee.
In 1959 Levitt began to photograph in color but eventually returned to black and white photography in the 1990s. A collection of her photographs of children and their chalk drawings were eventually published, in 1987, in a book called In the Street: Chalk Drawings and Messages. Some of her color photographs were published in Slide Show in 2005.
On 1stDibs find original Helen Levitt black and white photography, portrait photography, color photography and more.
New York (consoling woman)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
11 x 14 inch gelatin silver print. Image size 7.25 x 10.75 inches. Signed on verso Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiveness tr...
Silver Gelatin
$1,340
H 30 in W 40 in
Nude Portrait - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized
By H. Armstrong Roberts
Located in London, GB
Nude Portrait - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/Alamy) A woman poses for a nude studio portrait. Additional Information: Unframed Paper Si...
Silver Gelatin, Black and White
Jeff Stryker
By Greg Gorman
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Greg Gorman (b. 1949) is a renowned fashion photographer who established his reputation in the late 1980's. His bold images are most frequently created in black and white, which he c...
Silver Gelatin
Coney Island
By John Albok
Located in Denton, TX
Unique Vintage gelatin silver print 7 1/4 x 6 1/8 in. Titled, dated, and artist stamp. Born in Munkacs, Hungary, John Albok learned photography as a boy. He came to the U.S. in 1921...
Silver Gelatin
The Swan, With Leda (Limited Edition of 25)
By John Stoddart 1
Located in New York, NY
This 2009 photograph by legend photographer, John Stoddart depicts “The Swan with Leda.” It was inspired from the mythology of the Greek story of Leda and the Swan, when the God Zeus...
Silver Gelatin
Ashley, Cuba
By Silvia Lareo-Vazquez
Located in Hudson, NY
Listing is for UNFRAMED print. Inquire within for framing. Edition of 25. If the exhibition piece is sold or the customer orders a different print size, the photograph is produ...
Silver Gelatin
Fishing for Martini Olives in Panties
By Amy Touchette
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin silver print Signed and numbered 14 x 11 inches (Edition of 20) 20 x 16 inches (Edition of 10) From the series, "Shoot the Arrow: A Portrait of The World Famous *BOB*" Thi...
Silver Gelatin
"Chris Harris" silver gelatin print, 1980s, framed
By Greg Gorman
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Greg Gorman (b. 1949) is a renowned fashion photographer who established his reputation in the late 1980's. His bold images are most frequently created in black and white, which he c...
Silver Gelatin
$8,750
H 8 in W 10 in
"Cher (Candid)" gelatin silver print, 1981, framed, unique photograph
By Andy Warhol
Located in Toronto, Ontario
From 1976 until his death in 1987, Andy Warhol was rarely without a camera. Photography was fundamental both to his artistic practice and his engagement with the world around him. Th...
Silver Gelatin
Nicolas
By Pedro Slim
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin silver print (Edition of 10) Signed and dated in pencil, l.r. Titled in pencil, l.l. 14 x 11 inches, sheet 8 x 8 inches, image This photograph is offered by ClampArt, locat...
Silver Gelatin
Sign 77
By Nenad Samuilo Amodaj
Located in Hudson, NY
Price for UNFRAMED item The Robin Rice Gallery proudly announces SUMMERTIME Salon 2018, an annual photography exhibit featuring gallery artists as well as a few newcomers. This year...
Silver Gelatin
$11,000
H 8 in W 10 in
ANDY WARHOL "Natalie Wood's Hands" Silver Gelatin Print, 1983
By Andy Warhol
Located in Toronto, Ontario
From 1976 until his death in 1987, Andy Warhol was rarely without a camera. Photography was fundamental both to his artistic practice and his engagement with the world around him. Th...
Silver Gelatin
Ronnie
By Henry Horenstein
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin silver print Signed and numbered, verso 14 x 11 inches, sheet (Edition of 15) This photograph is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. In Close Relations, noted p...
Silver Gelatin
New York (three kids with masks)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
8 1/8 x 11 inch gelatin silver print, printed later. Titled and dated by the artist on verso as "N.Y. circa 1942." Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vis...
Silver Gelatin
New York (one boy consoling another)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
7 x 11 inch gelatin silver print - signed, titled, and dated on verso. Provenance - from the James Agee Family Collection Helen Levitt was a true master of ...
Silver Gelatin
New York City (boys dancing)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
This 14 x 11 inch gelatin silver print was printed in the 1980s, and is signed on verso. Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiven...
Silver Gelatin
N.Y.C. (5₵ Soda)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
Helen Levitt made her images of children's chalk drawings early in her career. The prints she produced were traditionally small in scale. In 2000, she and our gallery launched a proj...
Silver Gelatin
N.Y.C. (Button to Secret Passage)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
Helen Levitt made her images of children's chalk drawings early in her career. The prints she produced were traditionally small in scale. In 2000, she and our gallery launched a proj...
Silver Gelatin
Poster Girl, NYC
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiveness transformed the gritty world of New York City’s poorer neighborhoods into captivating,...
Silver Gelatin
New York (rolling record)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
14 x 11 inch gelatin silver print, signed by the artist on verso. 10.75 x 7.5 inch image size Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inven...
Silver Gelatin
New York City (cops and robbers)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiveness transformed the gritty world of New York City’s poorer neighborhoods into captivating,...
Silver Gelatin
New York City (woman reaching out)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
11 x 14 inch gelatin silver print (image size 5.6 x 8.25 inches) Signed on verso. Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiveness ...
Silver Gelatin
New York City (broken mirror)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
20 x 16 inch gelatin silver print, signed on verso. This is one of only a handful of prints of this iconic image that were printed in this larger size. It was usually printed in a 14...
Silver Gelatin
New York City (3 kids with masks)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
11 x 14 inch gelatin silver print, 1939 (printed later) Signed on verso Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiveness transforme...
Silver Gelatin